Human Rights activist and former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has posited that many lawmakers who are against the current tax reforms are ignorant of the provisions of the bills.
According to him, “The other day I saw a senator speaking about the bill on a national television. From what he said, it is clear that he is not conversant with the provisions of the bills.”
He said countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates had started taking measures to address their post oil future, adding that the Tax Reform is one of the very important steps for Nigeria and Nigerian economic future.
Also speaking, popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, said Nigeria needed reforms in all its critical sectors.
“It is not only in tax that we need reforms. There is no sector of Nigeria that doesn’t need reform.
“But if we start with the tax are we not putting the cart before the horse. Because already there is a draft bill on regional government and if it works the whole tax thing will change depending on the region.”
On his part, former Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna state, Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab, said the tax reform was necessary, but called for more awareness creation and sensitisation.
He said the debate about tax reforms should not be centered around ethnic and religious lines.
He said: “You invited us for a constructive dialogue. I wished we had started this dialogue long ago before the bill for the tax reforms was sent to the National Assembly; probably we would not have been here now.
“For a Christian, tax payment is not new. The Bible encourages us to pay tax. In societies where people pay tax, the citizens are responsible; they question government and participate in the act of governance.
“But sadly in Nigeria, people see tax as something new. They see is as exploitation. Permit me to say that there is also the question of trust deficits. Even if our leaders bring milk for us to drink and get fat people will still ask whether the milk is not poisoned.
“If we handle the issue of trust deficit we will address most of the problems we are having today as a nation.”