Presidency says Tax reform bill will eliminate poverty, empower Nigerians

The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has stated that the proposed Tax Reform Bill is designed to tackle poverty and uplift everyday Nigerians.
Speaking at the Spokespersons’ Summit hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja, Oyedele expressed strong confidence in the transformative impact of the bill, particularly for low-income earners and small businesses across the country.
He highlighted key provisions of the reform, including the exemption of low-income earners from Personal Income Tax (PAYE) and the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential goods and services such as food, education, and healthcare.
Oyedele also noted that the bill proposes a zero per cent Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate for small businesses. While acknowledging that the bill has faced criticism and misconceptions, he emphasized that its benefits are significant—especially for the average Nigerian.
He said, “This is because the issues of tax and taxation are not the most attractive to the ordinary persons because it is hard to part with your money.
“It is even harder when you part with your money and you cannot tell what exactly government is using it for that benefits you.”
Oyedele said the approach for the reform was to try and understand what the issues were and where the problems were coming from.
He added, “Then we will use data to engage with the people and design a solution for Nigeria that is made by Nigerians for the Nigerian people.
“That is exactly what we have done with the tax reform bill which is now nearing passage for the President to sign.”
According to Oyedele, the government is positive that as soon as implementation begins, Nigerians will see the real positive impact on their day-to-day living including low income earners being exempted from taxes.
“This is because, we want Nigerians to be able to create wealth and become successful, when they make it big time, then they will pay taxes, not the other way round.
“So, we believe that this message is resonating with the Nigerian people, it is still a long way to go but we are happy to continue with the journey,” he said.
Oyedele praised the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for organizing the summit and creating a platform to clarify government policies for better public understanding.
Also speaking at the event, the President and Chairman of Council of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, emphasized the importance of including the communication ecosystem in the policy-making process. He noted that communicators play a crucial role in translating even the most complex policies into messages that the public can easily grasp.
He added that they would look at such policies and guide strategic communication, adding, “which is the when, what, how where which it answers all those questions.
“So, when you say this is what we want to do,how best should we do it?it is the work of the experts and not quacks, those trained to come up with the strategies to communicate that.
“The tax reform is what this nation needs at this point but it was essentially misunderstood because of the way it was introduced and the mischief makers took advantage of that to do what they want.” Neliaku said that was why NIPR and its partners in the communication ecosystem had promised to work with the government to develop a tax communication framework.
He said that it was also being done in the areas of climate action, Science communication and across many sectors to communicate reforms so that the child is not killed even before it is birthed.
He encouraged spokespersons to acquire knowledge, understand trends and issues in order to be effective and to speak well and informed.
Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogu, a Fellow of NIPR, said that there was need to view taxation with the gender lens, adding that there was need to make exemptions for women.
Ali-Balogun said that most women were bread winners these days as well as single mothers should enjoy tax exemption to empower them to provide for their families.
She commended NIPR for organising the summit, adding that it had broadened her horizon on national issues.
(NAN)