Former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has stated that the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu and currently before the National Assembly will promote fairness and rectify the existing system.
He made this statement during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
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In October, after receiving approval from the Federal Executive Council, Tinubu sent four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for review.
The Federal Government stated that these bills are designed to overhaul the country’s tax system.
The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
The bills have sparked a wide range of opinions across the country. While some support the reforms, believing they could bring positive change, others fear they may worsen living conditions, making life harder for many citizens. The debate continues as people assess the potential impact of the reforms.
Expressing his views on the new tax reform bills, the former governor representing Bayelsa West in the Senate stated that the bill will bring fairness and correct the old order.
Dickson stated, “In Bayelsa, part of what I have been fighting over the years, is that most of our tax is paid to Lagos State. Most of our VAT is paid to Lagos State, because the existing tax regime requires that it be attributed to the state where the headquarters of the company is, but in the proposition now, that will be upturned.
“That will be upturned. So, there is a correction. Correction of the old order.
Oh, yes. It is introducing fairness that have been fighting for over the years.”
The former Bayelsa State Governor emphasised that the new bills align with the principles of true federalism.
He added, “Now, in that new formula that is proposed, remember, 50 percent was for equality of states. Now, what is being proposed is that 60 percent will go to derivation. That is, states producing, they get 60 percent of what you produce, 20 percent on equality and 20 percent on population.
“That is what is contained. Now, I don’t see anything unfair in this, if you follow the doctrines of federalism.”
Dickson, recognising that the bills have caused significant uproar, advised that building consensus, networking, consultation, and both agreement and disagreement should be approached with the national interest in mind.
“I believe in consensus building, networking, consultation, agreement, and disagreement in the national interest,” he said.
The former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Governors Forum cautioned against allowing emotions to influence decisions, urging lawmakers and other stakeholders to evaluate the tax reform bills on their merits.
He continued, “We have to step up and play our roles as leaders. I know some sensational headlines were generated. At our level, we have to be, or at least aspire to be, national politicians. And that’s what I’ve been discussing with my colleagues from all parts of the country.
“We can have a healthy conversation, even a debate, even a disagreement and an argument. After all, what are parliaments for? We’re not there to always agree. This is a vast and diverse country. There are states you go to where you will encounter almost 50 to 100 different languages and cultures. This is a very interesting, beautiful, and diverse nation. So, no one should expect unanimity of views or perspectives. Disagreements are normal.
“And as my good friend, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said on your programme, the more the arguments, discussions, and even disagreements, the more it shows the vitality of our democracy. There’s nothing wrong with that. The only thing is, while doing so, we shouldn’t ethnicize. We shouldn’t bring in sectional sentiments, and we should address the issues squarely.”