In a bid to engage in more constructive deliberation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has constituted a committee of experts to study the proposed tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly to come out with appropriate recommendations to be forwarded to appropriate organs of the government.
Recall that the tax reform bills passed a second reading in the Senate on November 28.
Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the Forum’s national publicity secretary, made this announcement on Thursday.
The ACF claims that the National Economic Council and other important stakeholders’ present discussions on the planned tax reform imply that insufficient consultations were conducted before the bills were prepared.
As highlighted by the statement. “ACF accepts that periodic public policy reforms are in line with the political and public administrative processes, in which regards reforms are indeed necessary and desirable. Nothing in the life of any community is static, and policies must try to address emerging challenges, take advantage of new opportunities, etc.”
Additionally, the forum observed that the seeming urgency of the measures’ backers, particularly the Federal Government, to expedite their passage through the Senate, fosters and maintains perceptions of particular but unspoken underlying interests.
The Senate was applauded by the forum for choosing to hold more extensive talks with pertinent parties to address issues raised by the measures.
It called on all individuals and interest groups to work with the appropriate Senate Committee assigned to the task. In keeping with the age-old maxim that no one has a monopoly of knowledge or wisdom, it also urged caution, decency, and respect for one another when discussing any of the proposed measures’ contents.
“Debates have continued to rage on the pros and cons of the proposed bills, with positions being argued vehemently and stridently with passion. However, it is concerning that the emerging debates have become acrimonious, pitting sections of the country against each other. It is highly regretful that opinions have tended to involve unsavoury and often abusive words meant to denigrate, blackmail, or intimidate anyone perceived, rightly or wrongly, as standing in support of or opposing the bills or their specific aspects that are now under consideration in the Senate.
“Needless to remind all, the proposed bills’ impact will have ramifications on every citizen and every part of the country. ACF notes that debates over bills are part and parcel of the public policy process, especially in democratic settings. Reforms meant to correct policy shortcomings or inadequacies must necessarily address all areas of concern that citizens may wish to raise.”
While urging every interest group to see the debates for or against any provisions in the bills as essential inputs into the policy process, the statement added that expressions of contrary opinions and views are necessary ingredients of the legislative process, in line with the dictates of democracy, to ensure the emergence of robust laws that will stand the test of time.
The group said that ultimately, the outcome of such laws emanating from the process will serve the interests of the whole country and not, as some insinuate, specific sections or interests to the detriment of others.
In October, President Tinubu asked the National Assembly to assent to passing the bills into law. The bills are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024-SB.583; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024-SB.584; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024-SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024-SB.586.
However, the Senate gave the tax reform bills a second reading on November 28.
