NewStats: 3,264,677 , 8,184,395 topics. Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 12:12 AM 3t3g3q

I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest.

Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity. They are loud and clear that the fiscal system we seek to promote must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by enhancing the status of a few states while unduly penalising others.

I call for objectivity and transparency in the conduct of the public hearing being organised by our representatives in the National Assembly. As a concerned stakeholder, I firmly believe that transparency and objectivity are essential for promoting ability, good governance, and public trust in policy-making. The public hearing process must facilitate open and inclusive participation by all stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and subject matter experts.

In this wise, I call on the NASS to revisit and make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council, a key stakeholder and an important organ of the state with the constitutional power to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation.

The NASS must be appropriately guided and ensure that in the final analysis, the contents of the Bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians. -AA

Atiku Abubakar's verified twitter handle
https://x.com/atiku/status/1863115981893013826

Atiku should focus on his own tax issues.

How can a man that owe tax for 2 decades be talking about tax fairness?

Atiku Abubakar plays into politics of pseudo-populism and does not demonstrate courage when his interests are threatened.

Recall that during Emefiele's naira repainting scheme, Tinubu boldly condemned it. But Atiku ed it, thinking it would help his interest. He was not on the side of the people then due to political expediency.

When Deborah Yakubu was gruesomely murdered, Atiku deleted a tweet that was made which had condemned the murder.

Today, a tax reform bill is being considered to reform collections and allocation based on each state's capacity, Atiku is dilly-dallying because he doesn't want to offend certain interests from his zone.

Dear Atiku Abubakar, be bold and take a firm stand on issues of national development. Your ambition should not be the sole motivation for the stand you take. Win or lose, be a statesman. John McCain lost to Obama, but he ed Obama's healthcare reform bill against his own party's interests. He is ed for that than losing election to Obama.

Atiku should be ignored.

This is a man who was busy defending the indefensible when his party was in power.

Why is he suddenly interested in Nigeria affairs after the election loss?

There is nothing wrong with periodic review and reform of tax regimes. Every country does that. However, in any federation and more so in a democracy, every federating unit is entitled to be selfish in pursuing their interests. Politics is about who gets what, when, how.

Therefore, transparency and exhaustive discussions by stakeholders will enhance understanding of the bill, clear doubts and allay fear. It will engender consensus and help to arrive at an acceptable Tax bill, which can always be improved or amended in future to reflect the realities of time.

By the way, it is interesting how Tinubu's ers are crying over Northern opposition to his Tax Bill. They have forgotten how Tinubu under the cloak of opposition frustrated GEJ on removal of petrol subsidy. Karmically speaking, what goes around, comes around.

A very ambiguous statement that's neither here nor there.

Atiku where do you stand?

Clearly he’s in of the bill

At least he seems to understand but has chosen to stay on the fence because of his entitled kinsmen

Just watch Obi release his own statement under 48hrs. A lily livered boy who is bereft of ideas and still wants to rule a country as complex as Nigeria

Atiku is just chasing clout. He knows the bills are fine and all the recommendations are being implemented.

In a nutshell, Atiku is not against Tinubu's tax reform bills. He only advocates clarity, openness, transparency and more inputs from the general public.

.. I will like to know where the likes of Obi, Kwankwaso and other opposition figures stand on this.

This idiot has finally put the nail to the coffin of his now dead political career .

So southern states (outside the yeast) should continue to have their tax revenues stolen from them and given to your north and SE minions .

This is how this same Atiku was totally against 25% oil derivative to SS states stating to Obasanjo Inna closed meeting that any more funds to the SS will open their eyes to money and should not be allowed.

When Obasanjo wanted to expand our power generation by tapping into the huge gas reserves in the SS, same Atiku opposed it and said it will be unwise for the government to concentrate all its power infrastructure in the SS. Since then , which power project has been built in the north?

Atiku has shown severally that he is anti SS despite the vast majority of his income today comes from his INTEL that operates in SS ports.

Well, what do you expect when you take one Fulani from Cameroon and make him to head sea ports customs?

After this TAX Bill is ed we push for Restructuring, Regionalism or Separation.

odejimioflagos:
Atiku should focus on his own tax issues.

How can a man that owe tax for 2 decades be talking about tax fairness?

Tinubu that is proposing tax, what has he done to help humanity in his life?. Tell us any single that Tinubu has done ?.

The same thing is happening in appointment. Using southern ticket to appoint only una people.

After una borrow our money to build una region and mocking SS/SE, una come dey form tax bills.

Lagos and Abuja money is Nigerian money!.

Atiku wants to know the resolutions of the National Economic Council on the tax bills. This is very important for public trust and transparency.

Any SE/SS ing that tax bill is a Mugu. The SS should be the one presenting because the are independent cash cow of the nation.

I will only this Bill if the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria are structured to regional government and giving regional autonomy , plus resource control

People who lack innovation turn to taxation
Tinubu has no reasonable plan for Nigeria
His actions have been to benefit himself and his folks

Atiku making sense … but unfortunately.. the insecured humans are already insulting

Transparency is all we need .. not rush

Frigga13:
Atiku making sense … but unfortunately.. the insecured humans are already insulting

Transparency is all we need .. not rush

I think you read it wrong.

The arguments paraded by those against the bill are mostly pedestrian. First example, Professor Babagana Zulum argued that the bill would cripple the north and they won't be able to pay salaries. Is there not more to governance than paying salaries?

Ali Ndume said there should be more consultations. I think we should start publishing what each state generates and contributes. Many states are lazy and want to be lazy. They know they'd be badly exposed as unproductive if the bill sees the light of day.

Two lawmakers from Kano, Senator Barau Jubril and Representative Abdulmumin Jibrin, have publicly ed the bill. Kano will benefit from the bill because of trade.

Without FG, some states will collapse.

Yankee101:
People who lack innovation turn to taxation
Tinubu has no reasonable plan for Nigeria
His actions have been to benefit himself and his folks

Your name is Yankee101. Either you are in yankee or you are aspiring to be there.

On my first visit to the US in 2014, I wanted to buy headphones. I took it from the shelf with confidence. When I was ready to pay, they added $76 more! I asked why. They gently explained to me that they added the Federal tax, state tax and county tax. I jejely returned the headphones. When I got to my hotel, the room I reserved for one week was about $525. They now hammered me with $700! They added their taxes.

When I worked in some organizations abroad, taxes are deducted at source. You are also required to declare your taxes and you must pay any outstanding or get refunded any excess you may have paid. If you lie about anything or you try to cheat, you get fined or jailed or both.

Societies depend on taxes for survival. Only some societies like UAE and Qatar are tax-free because they have buffers (oil and gas) and a small population to cushion the effects. I hear that removing money from those countries can be difficult. I may be wrong.

The tax reform bill is to ensure those who earn heavily pay more taxes and that states with robust economic activities make more money in keeping most of the taxes collected.

Those against the bill are those uninterested in developing robust economic activities in their states and want feeding bottle Abuja economics.

How do you destroy beer in the name of Hisbah police but want taxes from the sale of alcohol elsewhere? Make it make sense.

Atiku is a concerned stakeholder in the business of government.

Mrfeel:
I will only this Bill if the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria are structured to regional government and giving regional autonomy , plus resource control

Yoruba people, over to you. I think this makes more sense. DomPerignon, what do you think?

It's clear that all lawmakers won't be there foe ever, they should legislate for their post legislative years

10% VAT is 2.5% reduction in purchasing power and increase interest rate to control inflation

Ability to save or invest is taken away and there is more for Government to either develop or embezzling

Mrfeel:
I will only this Bill if the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria are structured to regional government and giving regional autonomy , plus resource control

The bill is pushing towards it. Ensure resource control, and states have more economic autonomy. Less viable states would seek partnerships with more viable states and regional integration becomes automatic.

Zooposki:


Yoruba people, over to you. I think this makes more sense.

What do you feel the development Commission are meant for?

Zooposki:


The development commission includes resource control and regional autonomy?

It's gradual
Resource control is a polarised issue, yourself knows.

From what he said, he’s not against the bill..

Atiku knows the bill is a good one..

He just didn’t want to talk straightly due to politics, hence why he’s speaking all these English..

omowolewa:


What do you feel the development Commission are meant for?

The development commission includes resource control and regional autonomy?

Atiku is a tax evader.

Everybody should look at that tax bill well before Tinubu uses it to play an Alpha Beta on Nigerian

festacman:
I agree with Atiku. In any Federation and more so in a democracy, every generating unit is entitled to be selfish in pursuing their interests. Politics is about who gets what, when, how.

Therefore, transparency and exhaustive discussions by stakeholders will enhance understanding of the bill, clear doubts and allay fear. It will engender consensus and help to arrive at an acceptable Tax bill, which can always be improved or amended in future to reflect the realities of time.

By the way, it is interesting how Tinubu's ers are crying over Northern opposition to his Tax Bill. They have forgotten how Tinubu under the cloak of opposition frustrated GEJ on removal of petrol subsidy. Karmically speaking, what goes around, comes around.

🤗 POINTLESS

The NASS must be appropriately guided and ensure that in the final analysis, the contents of the Bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians. -AA

Ofcoz we know that this part of his statement is about the entire North.

.