Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emphasized the need for objectivity and transparency in the National Assembly’s public hearing on the controversial Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The four bills—Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 (SB.583), Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024 (SB.584), Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024 (SB.585), and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 (SB.586)—have stirred widespread dissent, particularly in Northern Nigeria, with regional groups and clerics demanding their suspension.
Despite opposition, the Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, passed the bills through the second reading on Thursday, following a presentation by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and a briefing by Taiwo Oyedele, chairperson of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Atiku highlighted the critical role of transparency and inclusivity in fostering accountability and public trust in the legislative process.
“Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity,” Atiku wrote. “The fiscal system we seek must not deepen the uneven development among federating units by disproportionately benefiting a few states while unfairly burdening others.”
He urged the National Assembly to ensure the public hearing process remains open to all stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and economic experts.
Atiku also called for the release of resolutions from the National Economic Council (NEC), a vital advisory body to the President on economic matters.
“The NASS must be appropriately guided and ensure that, in the final analysis, the contents of the bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians,” he concluded.
The ongoing debate over the Tax Reform Bills underscores the growing public demand for fiscal policies that prioritize fairness and inclusivity.