Daniel Bwala, the special adviser on policy communication to President Bola Tinubu, says the president is being “blackmailed” over the proposed tax reform bills.
His comment follows criticism from Bala Mohammed, governor
of Bauchi state, who accused the president of ignoring public concerns over the
bills.
Mohammed warned that the bills, if passed, could have
“concomitant effects” on the financial stability of states 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 pointed out that Tinubu has not bypassed democratic
processes to push through the reforms.
Bwala noted 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.
“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 legislations 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.
During a presidential media chat in December 2024, Tinubu said the tax reform bills “have come
to stay”.
The president also signalled a willingness to make
concessions to address stakeholder concerns.
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