National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged citizens to disregard the misconceptions around the new tax reform bills, saying reform is in the best interest of Nigerians.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of NOA, stated this at press conference to create awareness on tax reform bills, security, get-rich-quick syndrome, human rights and HIV/AIDS, on Monday in Lafia.
Represented by Mallam Sule Haruna, Director, Finance and Accounts of the Agency, Issa-Onilu said that there have been a lot of misconceptions about the tax reform bills in the public domain.
He pointed out that a lot of those making negative comments about the new tax reform bills were not even conversant with the details and the inherent benefits.
Issa-Onilu said that Nigerians should have waited for the bills to be subjected to public hearing like every other legislation where citizens make their inputs and suggestions instead of discrediting bills outrightly.
According to him, the tax reform bills are in the best interest of Nigerians and will enhance the development of the country.
He said the move would go a long way in reducing the prices of goods and services consumed in the country.
“The Federal Government, recognising the closeness of the states and local government areas to the people, and the need for them to deliver on infrastructure and obligation to the people, decided to give the two tiers more share of the VAT revenue as capture in the bills.
“The federal government share of VAT is reduced from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, states are to get 55 per cent while LGAs get 35 per cent,” he said.
Issa-Onilu, therefore, urged citizens to support the new tax reform bill and discard the misconceptions that it was aimed at increasing the tax burden or punishing Nigerians.
