The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has urged Nigerians to be fair in their analysis of the tax reform bills put forward by President Bola Tinubu.
He submitted that the bills have been well-crafted and designed to provide solutions to tax challenges in the country.
Uzodinma, who spoke at the Government House in Owerri on Thursday, said many of those against the bills have not read or digested its content.
“Many of us who are criticising the bills have not taken time to study the bills to understand the merits or otherwise of the bills that have been presented.
“I would therefore want to call on all of us to take time and study the bills and identify those areas that think that they are not desirable to enable us to criticize it. Otherwise, I think that it is an economic bill that is meant to raise more money for the government and is also meant to harmonize our tax system, and also bring some kind of prudence and decorum to the taxation regime in the country,” he said.
Speaking further, Governor Uzodinma cautioned against subjecting the bills to politics or blackmail. According to him, constructive criticism is welcome.
“I’m of the view that people should not subject the bills to politics or blackmail. They should just look at the bills, go through them, and then see how far they can criticize or support the bills.
“I think it’s a document that has been crafted in a well-articulated manner and deserves to be given proper attention, particularly given that this is an executive bill from the president and shouldn’t be trivialized,” the Imo governor said.
He further highlighted what he believes would be the benefit of the bills.
“One thing I have seen that this bill intends to achieve is to have a harmonized position where different types of taxes can be paid through a single window.
“For me, it is an advanced method of cutting taxes all over the world. If there are some of the taxes, anybody thinks that is not going to go down well with the public, let us understand which of those taxes, and then we will reason together and then find a solution,” Uzodinma submitted.