The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for broader consultations over the controversial tax bills currently before the National Assembly.
The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, questioned the reason behind the rush to pass the bills.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Abdullahi argued that the government must recognise the significant implications of the bills, stressing that the collective interest of the citizens should be the priority.
He stated, “My take aligns with the position of the majority of Nigerians. If the elite members of society, particularly the governors, are apprehensive, it calls for an expanded or broader review of the situation.
“The government need to realise the great implications of this, as the collective interest of the citizenry should be at the forefront. Governors, being in a position to understand these implications, should be involved.”
He added, “However, I do not believe this should be a priority going forward for this country. Nigerians have been struggling since the arrival of this government, with skyrocketing inflation and harsh economic policies.
“The effects have been severe, whether it’s the floating of the naira, the removal of subsidies, or the numerous taxes that the country has had to deal with over the past year. It’s time for a change, as it’s not in the nation’s best interest to rush this process.
“If there are no sinister motives behind it, why the haste? We need more time for Nigerians to review and evaluate the implications of these decisions. If it truly serves our interest, it will be accepted naturally. However, the rush with which the government is pursuing this raises doubts about the sincerity of their intentions.”