Festus Osifo, the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has advised Nigerians to refrain from politiciaing the proposed tax reform bills.
Gatekeepers News reports that on October 3, President Bola Tinubu introduced four tax reform bills to the national assembly for discussion and potential passage.
The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
They have sparked controversy and are currently under scrutiny as they have passed the second reading in the Senate.
Opposition has emerged from the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), which is advocating for equitable and fair implementation of national policies and programs across all regions.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Osifo spoke in support of the bills and acknowledged that the concerns raised by some Nigerians were to be expected. He emphasised the importance of avoiding tribalism in the discussions surrounding the adoption of these tax reforms.
“Those undertones are clearly there. It started from the Northern Governors Forum; it metamorphosed into the General Governors’ Forum, and it went into the National Economic Council,” Osifo said.
“At this stage of our development, we should be wary. We shouldn’t politicise everything. Bringing in tribal talks or ethnicity, I don’t think this is right.”
