Northern Minister Says Tax Reform is Long Overdue, Calls for More Public Trust, Dialogue

A northern minister overseeing the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has argued that Nigeria’s tax system is long overdue for reforms, calling for more public trust and dialogue as Nigeria undertakes critical tax reforms aimed at spurring economic growth.
He made the statement on Saturday in Kaduna State during a national discussion hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations’ Kaduna Chapter.

Idris emphasized how public relations might help close the divide between the people and the government.
He urged greater communication and public trust as Nigeria implements important tax measures meant to boost the country’s economy.

Themed “Tax Reforms: The Role of Public Relations in Fostering Constructive Dialogue for National Economic Renaissance,” Idris highlighted the urgent need to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system, describing it as plagued by outdated structures and a general mistrust among taxpayers.
“All over the world, effective taxation is important as a source of financial power for governments to provide social services for their citizens,” he said.

He asserted that there were several reasons to believe that Nigeria’s tax administration system has become long overdue for reform, on account of design and implementation flaws as well as the general attitudes of taxpayers toward taxation.

He noted that the continuous revision of tax laws is an essential step in creating a strong basis for economic recovery and praised the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reform for its open approach and extensive public involvement.

The minister stressed that President Tinubu has also been very clear that the executive will listen to and work with all stakeholders to ensure that all concerns are duly and comprehensively addressed. Pledging that efforts would be made to ensure that lines of communication were opened and relevant engagement with the National Assembly and all other stakeholders on these taxation bills was undertaken.

“We are all in this together, as one people, one nation, and just as we are being called upon to make collective sacrifices, we will also collectively reap the abundant social and economic benefits of all of these necessary reforms,” the minister added.

Idris emphasized that public relations practitioners have a unique role in shaping narratives, promoting collaboration, and fostering trust between the government and the citizenry.

The minister also gave Nigerians the assurance that participatory democracy is still a priority for the Tinubu administration. He pointed out that in order to guarantee that the reforms provide advantages that are distributed fairly, open communication, inclusion, and openness are essential.
He mentioned that times like this are reminders of the important roles of public relations in the maintenance of a functioning and healthy society, adding that by facilitating purposeful communication, building mutual understanding, and transparent promotion of ideas, public relations practice and practitioners can help create a culture of collaboration and progress.