Former presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe claims that those opposing the proposed tax reform bills are enemies of the nation. He argues that the bills are beneficial for the poor and promote development. Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, Okupe emphasized that anyone with a sound mind would support the reforms designed to protect the impoverished and combat corruption. He stated, “Any reasonable person who has taken the time to understand the tax reforms over the past couple of months and opposes them is an enemy of the country. We are advocating that the majority of poor people should not pay taxes; how can anyone oppose that?” These reform bills state that companies that are unprofitable cannot be taxed unfairly. Their taxes will be determined by the revenue they generate and the profits they earn, rather than their total sales. “If your turnover is under 50 million, you are exempt; is there any reason to disagree with this?” “If these tax bills are successfully passed, they will help mitigate corruption,” Okupe stated. Regarding the opposition from the North to the proposed bills currently in the National Assembly, he argued that there was no valid reason for their resistance to the reforms. He noted that Nigeria’s democracy has relied on oil rather than taxation, which he deemed unsustainable, thus highlighting the need for reform. The former Director-General of Mr. Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organisation mentioned that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had made significant progress in revenue generation over the past year. He criticized the concerns about the timing and pace of the bills, asserting that urgent economic and financial issues require swift action. He added that the tax reform bills would enhance internally generated revenue for more states, benefiting the populace. Okupe also urged the President to oversee all revenue-generating agencies to eliminate corruption and practices that undermine the nation. He emphasized that with proper technology, the fight against corruption could be won, granting Nigerians greater freedom. He suggested that if agencies such as Customs, Immigration, Nigerian Communications Technology, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), and NIMASA adopt emerging technologies, corruption could be significantly reduced. DAILY POST notes that on October 3, Tinubu asked the National Assembly to review and pass the bills, which include the Nigeria tax bill, Nigeria tax administration bill, Nigeria Revenue Service establishment bill, and the Joint Revenue Board establishment bill. During a presidential media chat on Monday, Tinubu reiterated that the tax reforms aim to eliminate colonial-era assumptions in the country’s tax system.
