Tinubu praises govs for backing tax reform bills

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President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for unanimously endorsing the four Tax Reform Bills currently under review by the National Assembly.

In a statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President praised the governors for their visionary leadership and commitment to fostering national unity.

He noted their efforts to transcend regional, ethnic, and political divisions in the pursuit of Nigeria’s progress.

Describing Thursday’s consultation between the NGF and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy as productive, Tinubu highlighted it as a model of effective collaboration between the Federal and State governments.

He offered special recognition to the Chairman of the NGF, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, for mobilizing support among his colleagues for the transformative tax bills aimed at rejuvenating the economy and improving Nigeria’s investment climate.

The President also acknowledged the Progressive Governors Forum, the Northern Governors Forum, and other groups that played key roles in achieving a bipartisan resolution to the controversies surrounding the tax reform proposals.

Tinubu emphasised that the Tax Reform Bills are pro-poor and designed to prioritise national interests, enhance Nigeria’s economic competitiveness, and attract local and foreign investments.

Updating the nation’s outdated tax laws, he added, is central to these objectives.

The President lauded the dialogue between the NGF and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy as a testament to the effectiveness of constructive engagement in resolving disputes.

He described the governors as indispensable partners in nation-building and reaffirmed his commitment to working with them to foster economic growth, peace, stability, and national unity.

President Tinubu further encouraged other stakeholders with ideas for refining the Tax Bills to participate actively in the legislative process at the National Assembly.

He urged the National Assembly to fast-track the legislative process for these critical bills to ensure Nigeria quickly reaps the benefits of the proposed reforms.