The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has rejected allegations that the Tax Reform Bill was rushed to the National Assembly with ulterior motives.
Ajayi, in a statement shared on his X handle, emphasized that the bill was the result of extensive consultations led by the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Reform, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele. He noted that over 80 professionals from various sectors and regions contributed to the 14-month-long process.
“It is very disingenuous to say that the Tax Reform Bills that are a product of 14 months of extensive work by over 80 professionals drawn from every part of the country, across various professions and sectors of the economy, are being rushed through the National Assembly for ulterior motive,” Ajayi stated.
He also criticized comparisons between the Tax Reform Bill and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which took over two decades to pass through the legislature. According to Ajayi, such delays had dire consequences for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“The suggestion that it took the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) over 20 years to get through the parliament is backward thinking. Nigeria lost too much for the failure to pass the PIB on time in terms of revenue, investments, and jobs in the Oil & Gas sector,” he said.
Ajayi urged Nigerians to avoid unnecessary debates that could stall the bill’s progress, stressing the importance of timely action for the country’s economic growth. “We should not wait for another 20 years to do what is right for our country,” he added.
The Tax Reform Bill, a significant part of President Tinubu’s economic agenda, aims to streamline Nigeria’s tax system and boost revenue generation for sustainable development.
