The Presidency has refuted widespread claims suggesting that the proposed tax reform bills aim to abolish critical agencies, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Federal Government clarified that the reforms are designed to consolidate tax processes and alleviate the burden on businesses, not undermine national development agencies.
The statement, addressing the negative reactions and criticisms to the tax reforms, read, “The tax reform bills will not make Lagos or Rivers more affluent and other parts of the country, as recklessly canvassed, poorer. The bills will not destroy the economy of any section of the country. Instead, they aim to enhance the quality of life for Nigerians, especially the disadvantaged, who are trying to make a living.
“Contrary to the lies being peddled, the bills do not suggest that NASENI, TETFUND, and NITDA will cease to exist in 2029 after the passage of the bills.
The Presidency emphasised that Nigeria’s current tax regime has created a hostile environment for businesses, driving some to relocate to other countries. The tax reform bills, as outlined in Section 59(3) of the Nigeria Tax Bill, aim to streamline tax administration, enhance competitiveness, and promote business growth.
“It is a misrepresentation of facts to conclude that changing an agency’s funding source amounts to scrapping it. None of the countries leading globally in education, science, engineering, or information technology have similar earmarked taxes,” the statement continued, underscoring that agencies will continue to receive funds via budgetary provisions, while exploring alternative revenue sources.
Onanuga then reiterated the reforms’ broader goal of fostering economic prosperity and equity. “We cannot continue on this path if this country is to deliver the prosperity we need for our people,” the statement noted.
The Presidency called on public stakeholders, including governors, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and professional associations, to engage constructively through upcoming public hearings at the National Assembly.
Encouraging informed discourse, the government urged critics to “properly educate themselves about the bills’ contents and avoid misleading the public for any reason.”
It added, “Leaders should be more measured in their public utterances to avoid heating the polity and polarising the country unduly.”
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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