A former National Assembly member, Bamidele Faparusi, has described those opposing the Tax Reform Bills currently before the parliament as “enemies” of the nation.
Faparusi said the opposition to the tax reform bill by some National Assembly members has exposed those who want Nigeria to remain backward and under-developed.
The ex-lawmaker representing Gbonyin/ Ekiti East/Emure Federal Constituency, in a statement by his Media Office, called on the lawmakers opposing the bill to have a rethink, adding that archaic and obsolete tax laws in operation in the country had constituted impediments to the economic development and responsible for the revenue leakages as well as disparity in tax administration.
Espousing his views in the proposed tax laws, Faparusi commended the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) for adopting the tax reform bills to overcome controversies trailing the proposal.
Lambasting the federal lawmakers opposing the bills, Faparusi stated that it was shameless and disappointing for leaders at that echelon to be criticizing the tax bills they knew nothing about, saying this testified to the high level of degeneration in the leadership system.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was upbeat that the new tax regime would reinforce revenue generation and solidify the country’s economy when fully operational.
Faparusi hailed the governors for not backing the unwarranted and misdirected calls for the withdrawal of the bills already pending before the National Assembly, saying this signposted extreme display of patriotism and service to the nation.
“Those calling for the new Tax bills’ withdrawal are enemies of progress. It highly disappointing and most unfortunate to see members of National Assembly bragging that they are not interested to even read the contents of the bills, let alone considering them.
“Such members should be ashamed of themselves now that the Governors has endorse the new tax reform.
“I urge the National Assembly to do the job the Nigerian people elected them to do faithfully, rather than playing sectional and ethic politics with the future and prosperity of Nigeria. The new tax bills are about attracting investment, creating prosperity and reducing poverty.
“In my view it will ensure equitable shared prosperity in Nigeria. I understand the need to protect diverse interests, the status quo might have conferred undue benefits on some sections of the country, notwithstanding, any criticism of the reform must be objective, nationalistic and progressive.
“We should give President Tinubu free hands to navigate us out of the decade of economic mismanagement that has brought the country to his knees. If the President needs this tax reform as a tool, it’s only reasonable to give it to him,” he said.
