|By Adejumo Adekunle –
The Presidency has clarified that the new tax reform bills before the National Assembly will bring benefits to all states and unify Nigeria’s tax laws for better efficiency, countering concerns of job loss and regional bias. Addressing recent apprehensions raised by the Northern Governors’ Forum, Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga emphasized that these reforms are designed to create a fairer tax structure.
Following a meeting on October 28, chaired by Governor Muhammed Yahaya of Gombe and attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, the forum voiced reservations, particularly about the proposed Value-Added Tax model, which they said could disadvantage Northern interests. In response, Onanuga stressed, “The reform seeks to harmonize tax policies and enhance equity across all regions.”
The reforms, backed by President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council, aim to streamline tax processes nationwide.