Tax Reform Bills: ‘The Presidency Can Not Pressure Us, They Did Not Elect Us’ – Lawmakers

Minimum Wage: Tinubu Receives Briefing From FG Delegation

Amid allegations of intense lobbying by the Presidency, some lawmakers in the National Assembly have reaffirmed their decision to oppose the Tax Reform Bills presented by President Bola Tinubu, prioritizing the interests of their constituents over external pressures.

The bills, which aim to introduce sweeping changes to Nigeria’s tax system, have sparked widespread debate, with critics arguing that the reforms could disproportionately impact certain regions.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) emphasized that his allegiance remains with his constituents.

“I am not aware of any pressure, but as I told you last week, we are studying the bill as usual and liaising with our constituents and relevant stakeholders to understand their feelings and views. It is the people’s views and will that will prevail in the end. This is what will happen,” he said.

Rep. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori (Demsa/Lamurde/Numan Federal Constituency, Adamawa) echoed a similar sentiment, emphasising that the welfare of his constituents remained his top priority.

“First and foremost, I was elected to represent a constituency, and that constituency is part of a larger state. So, as a caucus, we have to sit down and dissect the bill, know what is good for the state, and know what is good for our people, and then we will now take a position. That is my stand on this; whether there is pressure any where, is not my business. Those who are putting the pressure did not elect me; those who elect me are those who matter.

“We have sent the feelers to our constituencies. Look, this is what is happening; what position are we going to take? The feedback that we get from our constituencies, we will sit down and aggregate them, and that will be our position,” the PDP lawmaker said.

Also, Rep. Bappah Aliyu Misau (Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency, Bauchi) said, like his governor, he strongly opposed the tax reforms, declaring that lawmakers from Bauchi State, alongside their governor, would not support the bills.

Misau stressed that northern lawmakers were united in their stance against the reforms, as the proposed changes did not benefit their constituents.

“The presidency cannot pressure us; they didn’t elect us. This is about protecting the average person in Bauchi. No member from Bauchi will support this bill,” Misau stated.

He added: “You know how the Parliament works. You can say your opinion and make your stand known. The minority voices would be heard, but the majority voice prevails. Since that is always the case, then there will be a problem. They may do something else. But I am telling you, every patriotic Northern lawmaker is against it.

“Even the few lawmakers that are advocating for this bill are those who don’t even go to their constituencies. They are anti-north.”

Another lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said if the presidency was eager to get the buy-in of northern leaders, it needed to disabuse their minds on the derivation clause in the new bill by presenting a template to show how the VAT would be shared from January.

The lawmaker said, “They need to give the details with a template of how the Derivation Clause would impact the sharing formula. They should go beyond telling us that only three states are benefiting from the current sharing formula to show all the states how the new formula will be.”