By Abba -Eku Onyeka, Abuja
A prominent legal practitioner, Barr Amobi Nzelu, has not only hailed President Bola Tinubu’s recent Tax Reform Bills, but also warned against politicizing them, even as he told the implementers to live up to Mr President’s well articulated works.
In an exclusive interview, with our correspondent over the weekend, Nzelu noted that while he has only had a skeletal look at the bills, he believes that the initiative is a welcome development. However, he cautioned that the proceeds from the tax reforms must be properly managed to benefit the ordinary Nigerian.
Lamenting that most of the tax laws in Nigeria are obsolete, unattainable, inaccessible, and unable to meet the realities on the ground, he therefore emphasized that tax reforms are necessary, but the implementation and management of the proceeds are crucial.
“The position of Mr. President on this matter is a welcome development. However, it must not be politicized. It must be something that will be implemented, pass into law, so that Nigeria can move forward,” Nzelu said.
He also noted that Nigerians have a tendency to expect “free food” without fulfilling their civic responsibilities. Nzelu believes that the tax reforms could awaken Nigerians to take their civic duties seriously, which would enable them to hold the government accountable for its actions.
As the National Assembly begins to deliberate on the Presidential Tax Reform Bills, Nigerians will be watching with keen interest to see how the reforms will be implemented and managed. Only time will tell if the initiative will achieve its intended purpose of promoting economic growth and development.