Uzodimma Calls For Caution Over Tax Reform Bills

informantonline.com.ng

December 6, 2024

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has urged caution regarding the Tax Reform Bills, advising Nigerians to carefully review their contents before forming opinions.

The bills, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, have sparked intense debate across the country.

The northern region, in particular, has been the most outspoken in opposing the bills, creating tensions between some state governors, lawmakers, and the Federal Government.

However, speaking from the Government House in Owerri on Thursday, Uzodimma stated that many of those criticizing the bills have not thoroughly examined their details.

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“Many of us who are criticising the bills have not taken time to study the bills to understand the merits or otherwise of the bills that have been presented,” the governor said.

“I would therefore want to call on all of us to take time and study the bills and identify those areas that think that they are not desirable to enable us to criticize it. Otherwise, I think that it is an economic bill that is meant to raise more money for the government and is also meant to harmonize our tax system, and also bring some kind of prudence and decorum to the taxation regime in the country.”

The introduction of the bills has sparked ongoing controversy. Critics, particularly from the northern region of the country, argue that they are designed to undermine the region. Others contend that the move will push even more Nigerians into poverty, a claim that Uzodimma has denied.

“I’m of the view that people should not subject the bills to politics or blackmail. They should just look at the bills, go through them, and then see how far they can criticize or support the bills.

“I think it’s a document that has been crafted in a well-articulated manner and deserves to be given proper attention, particularly given that this is an executive bill from the president and shouldn’t be trivialized,” the Imo governor said.

According to him, when passed, the bills would help tackle several issues with taxation.

“One thing I have seen that this bill intends to achieve is to have a harmonized position where different types of taxes can be paid through a single window,” Uzodimma, who is the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum said.

“For me, it is an advanced method of cutting taxes all over the world. If there are some of the taxes, anybody thinks that is not going to go down well with the public, let us understand which of those taxes, and then we will reason together and then find a solution.”