Ex-Speaker Dogara backs tax reform bills

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has backed the tax reform bills of President Bola Tinubu, which have generated concerns, especially in the northern part of the country.

Dogara supported the tax reform bills at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Christian Awareness Initiatives of Nigeria (CHAIN) on Thursday in Kaduna.

The theme of the meeting was “Church and Society: Tax Reform and Matters Arising”.

He said that national issues needed not to take a regional or any other dimension as seen with the tax reform bills.

Dogara said the tax reform bills would be beneficial to Nigerians especially the Northern part where it would free most of its people who were struggling with the burden of taxation.

“Those who are earning less than N800,000 would not be taxed, imagine how many Northerners will be out of the tax.

”If businesses that do not make up to N50 million in a month will also not pay tax, imagine how it will free the economic space for our people.

“More businesses will be created and more people will be employed in the region that has a high number of unemployed people roaming the streets, he said.

According to Dogara, the tax reform bills would enable the North to unleash its creative potential.

He, however, said in terms of distribution, the tax reforms would constitute problems for the North.

The former speaker, therefore, said conversation and dialogue needed to be done to reach an understanding on what would be fair between the North and the South.

“I agree totally there are legitimate concerns, but we can’t say as leaders that because the issues are difficult then we won’t do anything about it; that is what we totally disagree with,” Dogara said.

He added that the bill, which states derivation based on attribution, needed to be clearly refined.

According to him, attribution should be based on location of consumption, not where the headquarters of the companies are located.

“All these can be clarified. But to say we can’t have a reform in a country where we have 11 tax laws that are summarised into two is not possible.

“Reforms are actually difficult because people resist, but the world itself has marched through change, which we enjoy now as humans because of the daring efforts by people to introduce changes in spite of resistance.

“If we want progress, we must always move from the status quo. It will take courage, leadership, patience and sometimes sacrifice.

”Even if it means we are going to give a lot from the North for Nigeria to move forward, we should be able to do it.

“At some point, we will also demand from the South to also give alot for the North to make progress. That is how we can run as a better country,” Dogara said.

The chairman of the event, Simon Achuba, said information was critical and enabled people to take the right direction and decision.

Achuba, who was the former Deputy Governor of Kogi, therefore said the town hall meeting would enable the Christians to have a unified voice on the tax reform bills.

He also said that gone were the days where Christians shied away from politics, urgung that they must participate in the governing process.

Achuba said they would look into the areas where the tax reform bills required expulsion, redefinition or total removal.

Earlier, Rev. Joseph Hayab, the Executive Director of CHAIN, said that even though the dialogue about the tax reform bills should have come much earlier, it was better late than never.

According to him, from information gathered from experts, there are pointers that the tax reform bill has many prospects, even though some areas must be redefined and realigned.

He said, “Our nation and people will not know, experience, or enjoy any meaningful progress until we seek good and proper knowledge about our nation and how to work together to develop the nation”.

Hayab, therefore, believed that when citizens were well informed, they could recommend, promote, and encourage their elected representatives both at the state and the national assemblies.

This is to correct what needs to be corrected, add what may have been omitted, and be delivered so that the bill be passed but not to call for it to be thrown away.

Hayab appealed to all Nigerians to be cautious and not condemn or support matters they know little or nothing about.

He said, “Nigeria must move forward. Hence, citizens should not engage in religious or ethnic sentiments or divisive patterns to derail Nigeria’s progress.

“Nigeria must not continue in the old ways, which have delayed our progress. Nations are built on the positive contributions of citizens.”

Accordingly, every citizen has a vital role and contribution to nation-building and should be guided and allowed to do so.

Speaking further, the executive director said CHAIN was established in 2007 to provide platforms and avenues for Christians to seek improved ways to effectively participate in Nigeria’s national life associated with spiritual, social, and economic growth.

He said the town hall meeting called on Christian leaders to deliberate and make remarks on the matter of tax reforms being considered by the legislative arm of Nigeria.

Scripturally, he said, Jesus taught his disciples to pay their taxes faithfully and regularly to those to whom tax payment is due.

He, however, said the questions that beg for immediate answers were why and whether the reforms are good or beneficial to the average Nigerian and what experts think are the grey areas.

“Meanwhile, we at CHAIN believe that Christian leaders should not stay on the fence on matters of national interest because the leaders have followers who believe in them and need their guidance,” Hayab said.

Speaking on behalf of the zonal leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Sunday Oyibe said the foundation of Nigeria’s problem is the distrust between the leaders and the followers.

Oyibe, who is the CAN Chairman of the North-East region, emphasised that the distrust has led to a lack of accountability and transparency in governance.

He, therefore, said it must be addressed to move the country forward.