Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the National Assembly to reconsider and make public the National Economic Council’s decisions on Tax Reform Bills.
The measures, which have sparked controversy since President Bola Tinubu sent them to the National Assembly, were passed for a second reading by the Senate last week.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, Atiku stated that the National Assembly must be properly directed to ensure that the substance of the Bills ultimately line with the interests of the majority of Nigerians.
“I urge the NASS to reconsider and make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council, a significant stakeholder and a vital organ of state with the constitutional authority to advise the President on the Federation’s economic matters. The NASS must be properly led to ensure that, in the end, the substance of the Bills matches with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians,” the post stated.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for 2023, who stated that he has closely monitored the passionate public debate surrounding the Tax Reform Bills, highlighted that Nigerians are unified in their desire for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity.
He claims that Nigerians have said, “Loud and clear that the fiscal system we seek to promote must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by enhancing the status of a few states while unduly penalising others.”
He also urged the House of Representatives to conduct a fair and transparent public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills.
“I urge our National Assembly representatives to conduct the public hearing with objectivity and openness. As a concerned stakeholder, I believe that transparency and objectivity are critical for fostering accountability, good governance, and public trust in policymaking. The public hearing process must encourage open and inclusive involvement from all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and subject matter experts.”
