By In a move aimed at fostering broader national consensus, the National Economic Council (NEC) urged President Bola Tinubu on Thursday to retract the Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly. This request, voiced by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, emerged as a key resolution from NEC’s 144th meeting at the State House, Abuja.
Governor Makinde informed reporters that NEC members unanimously recognized the necessity of building nationwide understanding and consensus on the proposed reforms. “NEC noted the need for sufficient alignment on the proposed reforms and recommended the withdrawal of the tax reform bills,” Makinde said, stressing that this step was deemed essential for the country’s welfare. “We identified gaps that highlighted the need for a wider consultation,” he added.
The call for retraction arrives shortly after the Federal Government and President Tinubu announced ambitious tax policy overhauls aimed at modernizing tax administration and eliminating redundancies. These reforms, formalized in August 2023, include four executive bills currently under National Assembly review.
NEC’s decision coincides with mounting opposition from the Northern Governors’ Forum. Days before the NEC meeting, governors from the 19 Northern states formally rejected a derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax distribution proposed within the bills. In a statement read by Gombe State Governor Muhammed Yahaya, forum members condemned the measure as contrary to the North’s interests and potentially divisive among the country’s regions.
This latest move by NEC underscores growing demands for more inclusive policy development, particularly in areas as impactful as tax reforms.
