President Bola Tinubu late Monday night said the decision to implement the tax bills and subsequent tax reforms would not be jeopardised through blackmail or other tactics by entities across all sectors of the economy.
Speaking during his first presidential media chat in Lagos State, the president emphasized that the tax reform bills before the National Assembly would not be disrupted by controversies.
According to the president, the bill seeks to support the most vulnerable in the society, and as such would not be terminated as calls for further consultations are already in motion.
He said, “Tax reform is here to stay. In today’s economy, we cannot continue to do what we were doing in the past. We can’t retool with old and broken folks.
“The essence of tax reform is to eliminate colonial-based assumptions in our tax environment.
“Every tax situation without outcry is not a tax. You can’t satisfy uniformly the largest community of tax evaders. Look at this tax reform; it is pro-poor. The vulnerable are not to pay taxes.
“The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it ought to be done. That is my philosophy.
“Tax matters are the subject of debates, reviews, and negotiations until you reach a consensus. I don’t mind cutting edges. I will.”
The bills consist of the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB), Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB), Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill (NRSEB), and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill (JRBEB).