Tinubu is being blackmailed over tax reform bills – Bwala alleges
The special adviser on policy communication to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, has defended the president over the tax reform bills currently generating controversies, alleging that he is being “blackmailed” over the proposed bills.
Bwala was reacting to the criticism from the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, governor, who accused the president of ignoring public concerns over the bills.
Mohammed warned that the bills, if passed, could have “concomitant effects” on states’ financial stability and further deepen the hardship faced by Nigerians.
“We believe that as the leader of the federation and all other federating units, they should listen to us, not act arrogantly or show impunity as though they can proceed regardless,” Mohammed said.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Bwala defended the president’s position, adding that the bills are under the purview of the national assembly.
He rejected the governor’s claims, arguing that the president’s actions demonstrate responsiveness to Nigerians.
He also pointed out that Tinubu has not bypassed democratic processes to push through the reforms, noting that governors critical of the reforms should engage lawmakers from their states to express their concerns rather than attributing blame to the president.
“The part I disagreed with him (Bauchi governor) is that he created the insinuation that the president does not listen,” Bwala said.
“If a group of governors does not get the president to do their bidding, it does not mean he is not responding to Nigerians because the governors are 37 — including the FCT ministers — but Nigerians are over 200 million.
“I think that rather than scapegoating and blackmailing the president, the governors should talk to their lawmakers.
“It is a democracy. He has presented the bills to the national assembly. It is the national assembly that will deliberate and do what they need to do in the process of the passage.
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“If a governor has a concern after having a conversation with the federal government, he should dialogue with national assembly members in his state to articulate his concerns in the national assembly. At the end of the day, it will come down to voting.
“I think a lot of people are blackmailing the president, and I’m not particularly mentioning anybody. The president is not in the legislative branch of government.”
The proposed legislation comprise the Nigeria tax bill, Nigeria tax administration bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
One of the most contentious elements is the proposed revision of the value-added tax (VAT) sharing formula, which has drawn widespread opposition, particularly from stakeholders in northern Nigeria.
Source: TheCable
