Ghali Mustapha, a member of the House of Representatives, has criticized the proposed tax reform bills, saying they do not serve the interests of Nigerians.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Mustapha, who represents the Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi federal constituency under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), warned that passing the bills into law would exacerbate economic hardships in the country.
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“The policies of this current government are too harsh and against the interests of the masses,” he said. “For them to bring this subject of debate on tax reform—I think they are wrong.”
The legislator expressed concerns about the driving force behind the bills. “We don’t know who is behind this tax bill. We know the executive is hell-bent on seeing that this tax bill is passed. But we will do our best to stop this bill.
“I can assure you that the majority of the members that I have spoken with are not interested in this bill because what is most important now is how to put food on the table of the poor. How can you stop insecurity? How can you provide quality education? How can you provide employment? This is what we think.”
Mustapha called on the executive to focus on stabilizing the economy and addressing critical issues such as security, education, and job creation rather than pushing for tax reforms.
“The executive should understand that this bill is generating serious concerns. If this bill is implemented, the current problems we have today will multiply,” he cautioned. “Therefore, this bill should be completely discarded or put aside.”
President Bola Tinubu sent four tax reform bills to the National Assembly on October 3 for consideration. These include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The proposed laws have stirred controversy across the country. On October 28, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) opposed the bills, arguing that they would harm the interests of the northern region. The governors urged the National Assembly to reject the bills and called for equitable implementation of national policies.
The National Economic Council (NEC) also advised Tinubu to withdraw the bills to allow for broader consultations.
However, on November 1, Tinubu insisted the bills would not be withdrawn, stating that they were designed to improve the lives of Nigerians and optimize the country’s tax frameworks.
