The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced the formation of a committee of experts to review the proposed tax reform bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly. The move aims to provide informed recommendations to the government on the contentious legislation.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF expressed concerns that the proposed reforms had not undergone sufficient consultation before being presented to lawmakers.
The Forum acknowledged the necessity of periodic public policy reforms to address emerging challenges and opportunities but criticized what it described as the Federal Government’s apparent impatience to fast-track the bills through the legislative process. This, it said, had fueled suspicions of undisclosed interests driving the reforms.
Commending the Senate for opting to engage in broader consultations with stakeholders, the ACF urged citizens and interest groups to cooperate with the Senate committee tasked with reviewing the bills. The Forum also called for restraint and decorum in public debates, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and constructive dialogue.
“Debates over the bills should serve as essential inputs into the legislative process. Contrarian opinions are necessary to ensure the emergence of robust laws that will stand the test of time,” the statement read.
The ACF expressed concern over the increasingly divisive and acrimonious nature of discussions surrounding the bills, warning against the use of abusive language and tactics to intimidate opposing voices.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the bills, but their potential impact on citizens and the nation as a whole has sparked significant debate. The ACF underscored the need for reforms to address policy shortcomings while ensuring that the final laws serve the interests of all Nigerians.
