The controversial Tax Reform Bills proposed to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu has been rejected by the Kano State House of Assembly.
Lawmakers of the House of Assembly during the plenary session led by the Speaker, Isma’il Falgore, deliberated on the bills and rejected them.
Speaking on the bills, Lawan Husseini (ANPP-Dala), the Majority Leader of the House raised motion ‘urgent public importance,’ on the need for northern lawmakers to prevent the passage of the bills.
According to majority leader, the bill if passed into law would be of no benefit to the northern part of the country.
He said, “We view it as a deliberate effort to sabotage the economy, increase hardship and further impoverishing the region.”
The lawmaker stated he was worried that the proposed bills would favour states like Lagos where major corporations such as Nigerian banks, telecommunications companies, and multinational companies were headquartered, would receive the largest share of the VAT.
“Lagos and its environs would account for 80 percent of the VAT collected in Nigeria, leaving northern states with a minimal share,” he said.
He noted that if passed into law, the bills will weaken the states in the Northern part of the country.
In his support, Salisu Mohammed advised the National Assembly to focus on more pressing national issues like insecurity and unemployment, instead of rushing to pass the tax reform bills into law.
