‘Tax Reform Bills will change way things are done in Nigeria’ – Rep Ikwechegh
Member representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Hon Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, has said that the Tax Reform Bills will literally alter the way everything is at the moment in Nigeria.
Ikwechegh said the bills, if passed, will help the governors to think outside the box in sourcing their revenues, stressing that there are a lot of benefits that come with the bills.
According to him, his colleagues from the south east zone are only slightly worried about a few grey areas.
Ikwechegh spoke in an interview with the press after a public presentation of a book: “The power of Nothing: Triumph And Thump Of People’s Voice In Enugu”, written by Ikem Okuhu.
He noted that lot of people were still trying to dissect the content of the bill to understand the clinical tendencies that are enshrined it.
Ikwechegh said: “I will be very frank with you. The tax reform bills, there are a few grey areas that members from the south east are slightly worried about. You know this is a very technical bill.
“The bills were brought to the House of Representatives early weeks ago and a lot of consultations area still ongoing. A lot of people are still trying to dissect the content of the bills to understand the clinical tendencies that are enshrined into the bills.
“So we all know it’s a technical bill and we are trying to understand it. The Deputy Speaker has reached out to us; we have, as a caucus, met.
“Governors of Imo and Ebonyi have also reached out to us. We have reached out to our scholars, our tax people to peruse the bill. It’s not a bad bill.
“There are a lot of benefits that come with the bill. What you consume you get – your value added taxes. It’s a good one. Some of us in the south east consume a lot of things.
“There’s no part of the country that is cheated. It’s just good that we take time to study the bill and understand it. You can agree with me that the bill is quite voluminous – we have four bills all in one.
“I believe that by next week, the President will come to the National Assembly to present the budget.
“After the budget is presented, we will take time to go for holidays, where we will engage in robust consultations and proper sensitization about the bill. This is a bill that will literally alter the way everything is at the moment in Nigeria.
“We know a few things had happened in the past – the subsidy removal, the floating of the currency, the increment of the electricity tariff – so, people are slightly ambivalent about rushing to pass this bill.
“We want to truly understand the effect that will come with the passage. After all these have been taken into cognizance, I am sure the bill will be passed. I assure you that this bill is revolutionary, except from few grey areas, which must be attended to.
“If this bill is passed, it will help the governors think outside the box, not just to rely on the allocation. It’s simple – what you earn, you keep”.
