Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has shed light on the ongoing controversy surrounding the governors’ stance on the Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Governor clarified that it was incorrect to label the 36 state governors as being opposed to the Tinubu administration’s reform efforts.
Instead, Governor Sule emphasized the need for better understanding and deliberation. “The issue of increasing the VAT from 20 per cent to 60 per cent at the point of generation, and I am happy that Taiwo said it has now changed not just at the point of generation but also consumption, that is fine,” he stated.
Highlighting the concerns raised by his colleagues, he added, “Those were some of the issues mentioned by the governors. The governors said, ‘you know what, why don’t you withdraw the bills, let us discuss it, let us understand it.’”
Governor Sule insisted that clearer communication could have prevented the calls for a withdrawal in the first place, as the governors’ intent was rooted in a desire for transparency and clarity.
The proposed Tax Reform Bills, which recently passed second reading in the Senate through voice votes, have sparked widespread debate, particularly in Northern Nigeria. The National Economic Council (NEC) has also weighed in, advising President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the bills to allow for further consultations a move aimed at addressing the lingering questions and resistance.