Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill, based on South West economy, anti-people – Hon Ghali

Lawmaker representing Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ghali Mustapha South West and not Nigerian economy, hence, it is anti-people and will be rejected.

Speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja, the lawmaker argued that the Bills were crafted base on South West environment, noting that the construction of Nigeria was far beyond that.

He said: “Actually, there are all these sentiments, but politically, people will look at it in that direction, but my own opinion is the fact that the crafters of this bill did not even understand the constructors of the economy of Nigeria.

“Economy is beyond your area of background, where you grow up or where you study, tha’s not Nigeria.

“I think the people that crafted this bill, they failed to understand the economic constructors of the entire Nigeria. They did this bill or they crafted it based on their own background and understanding. Therefore, this should not reflect the view of the Nigerian economy.

He spoke amid controversies trailing the bills from various quarters especially in the northern party of the county.

Expressing his personal feeling, he said, he has corporate finance background and having gone through copies of the Bills forwarded to both Chambers of the National Assembly, he has reservation for the bills and will oppose when they come up for debate.

He said, it was normal for a bill to pass first reading and legislators could only debate when it comes for second reading, adding that many members are weighing the ‘pros and cons’, expressing the belief that the bills would not see the light of the day.

The lawmaker said: “Well, this is a subject of national discourse currently going on and is yet to be debated at the National Assembly or the House of Reps. But we are aware it has gone through first reading and this is the second reading and we understand it is an Executive Bill.

“Most of the members, including me, so many people have an opinion about it, but I was able to have the four bills and digest it to my own understanding and to the level of knowledge.

“However, I have a background in finance, as a student of International Corporate Finance, so I have an idea of what all this is all about. The bills actually are not in tandem with public interest and it’s not pro-masses.

“This is a capitalist bill and for such reason, I, Dr. Ghali Mustafa Tijani, I am rejecting this bill as a member that represent people in the parliament to ensure that my people are well represented and Nigerians have got all the benefits and dividends of democracy.

“Therefore, these tax reform bills, is capitalistic in nature and is siphoning the poor, so t say.”

He insisted that there are not pro-masses, capitalist inclined and described provisions of the bill as a lazy way of thinking, wondering why Nigeria cannot explore lots of opportunities to generate more revenue.

He opined: “Our mineral resources sector has not been tapped adequately. If Nigeria is looking for revenue, they should invest in mineral resources, in mining, and do the necessary investments. The resources definitely will come to the country.

“Similarly, currently, Nigeria is losing a lot of money in terms of revenue, in terms of tax evasion and transfer pricing manipulation. And the Nigerian government or the current government should think of blocking such leakages rather than taxing more people in the country or taxing the companies that are willing to invest and employ more labour.

“Also, just to make an addendum, the Northern Governors Forum has also raised their voice against this bill. What is your thinking? Actually, the Northern Governors Forum is a body that has a vital role in this discussion because they are the ones that represent the governance system of the 19 states in the Northern region. I believe they have a fair view of understanding to this. If this is something positive to their own state, definitely they will accept it.

“But for them to come out to reject this, this is indication that this bill is not in the interest of their own people and their own state. Therefore, I align my own position with them.”