The need for robust and healthy discussions among Nigerians over the controversy that trailed the federal government new tax reform bills have been emphasized.
Participants at a one day annual general meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held in Kaduna last week Saturday, agreed that the bills, if properly executed, will help the nation to recover from its current economic challenges.
They however noted that the government has not done enough in terms of publicity and information, most especially on the ordinary citizens on the benefits of the controversial bills, now before the National Assembly.
They suggested an all out aggressive information and enlightenment campaign in some local languages, to disabuse the mind of the people on the negative campaign against the Tax Reform’s Bills, urging the authority to use local leaders and traditional institutions to carry out the sensitisation.
Participants noted that lack of awareness and proper government enlightenment on the bills gave room to the furore and rage among Nigerians, most especially those who attached politics to the success of the bills.
It is the belief of some of the attendees that the bills are among the best policies that has ever been contemplated by any government since 1999, and must be carefully guarded and executed for the benefit of all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation. The authority should not leave any room for the wailers to introduce divide and rule into the issue, capable of rocking the unity of the country, and polarising the polity
Various speakers from different backgrounds, including notable clergymen, front line politicians, and intellectuals from different citadel of knowledge, spoke eloquently on the new bills, and appealed to the federal government not to relent in its proper execution, and also be sensitive to various opinions.
Although, it was a gathering of who’s who in the nation’s project, the government will do well to study their contributions, which can douse the tension that followed the introduction of the tax reform bills, which has attracted many attacks by some people, whose perception of the bills were negative, and with the erroneous belief that it was intended to stifle the economic growth of a certain region.
As good as the new tax reform bills may prove to be, another fear expressed is the civil service delay in many of such bills in the past, which led to their failures.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who chaired the occasion, commended the Kaduna State Chapter of the NIPR, for being the first to see the necessity for the timely gathering of Nigerians from all levels, to brainstorm over the government policy, and urged other organisations and institutions to emulate the institute, particularly the fourth estate of the realm, in order to take the lead in educating and enlightening the people on government policies.
The minister told the gathering that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration means well for the entire nation, adding that no part of Nigeria will be left behind in the collective development of the country, or be sidelined in any government policy.
According to the minister, the federal government will not do anything to undermine any part of the country, or see one as inferior to the other. He explained that President Tinubu will not do anything that will hurt democracy at all levels, and urged the citizens to continue to have confidence in the government, geared towards their safety and welfare, under a very conducive atmosphere.
The minister called on the nation’s intellectuals and stakeholders, mostly, in the field of economy, to thoroughly study the proposed bills, and come out with a way out of our economic unhealthy situation.
In his contributions, Sheikh Ahmed Mahmoud Gumi said he had taken time to read the documents, and was convinced that if properly executed they will go a long way to save the country from economic collapse. According to the clergyman, there are no reasons for any part of the country to exercise any fear of marginalisation over the bills, but see the bills as a clarion call on all parts of the country to stand up and collectively develop the entire country.
Reverend Joseph Hayab in his contributions said the government came late to sensitise the citizens over the bills, hence the bad publicity the bills attracted from certain parts of the country. He said bills like the one in discussion needs to be publicised all over the country, even in local languages, for the ordinary citizens to understand and know the benefits. He advised people in the North to wake up and seize the opportunity offered by the bills to turn the North’s God given wealth around for development.
Senator Shehu Sani said the Northern Region will benefit immensely from the new tax reform bills, if they put their house in order and turn the North to an el-dorado for other parts to be envious of and stop blaming others for their woes.
He rebuked some elected officials from the North who have failed to help the zone, only to wait for monthly allocations from the federal government, and refused to assist in the development of the area.
According to him, the North is sitting on numerous wealth, which requires urgent development and to be explored for the benefits of the people.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Malam Suleiman Shuaibu (SAN), who represented Governor Uba Sani at the occasion, said the state under the present administration, has vigorously embarked on many reforms, similar to the those of the federal government, to assist the people of the state and better the lives of the citizenry.
At the end of the programme, a five-man committee of panelists discussed the theme of the programme, and concluded that the tax reform bills are the only way out to save the nation’s economy from collapse.
