Stakeholders including experts and religious leaders have canvassed prioritizing national interest above regional sentiment for the advancement of Nigeria.
They stated this during a town hall meeting for christian leaders on the current tax reform bills held in Kaduna.
Delivering his key note address, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara said for the country to achieve meaningful progress, national issues need not be given regional, ethnic or religious colouration.
He said citizens must deliberately unite on key national issues including the current tax reform bills by avoiding primordial sentiments.
Mr. Dogara submitted that the current tax reform bills has numerous potentials that could set the stage for improved foreign and local investment.
“Those who are earning less than N800,000 would not be taxed, imagine how many Northerners will be out of the tax. If businesses that do not make up to 50 million in a month will also not pay tax, imagine how it will free the economic space for our people. More businesses will be created and more people will be employed, in the region that has a high number of unemployed people roaming the streets.’’ he added
On the various areas of concerns including the value added tax arrangements, the former speaker said dialogue and consensus can be reached to address them as well as other grey areas.
“I agree totally there are legitimate concerns, but we can’t say as leaders that because the issues are difficult then we won’t do anything about it, that is what we totally disagree with” he noted.
“All these can be clarified. But to say we can’t have a reform in a country where we have 11 tax laws that are summarised into two is not possible. Reforms are actually difficult because people resist, but the world itself has marched through change, which we enjoy now as humans because of the daring efforts by people to introduce changes in spite of resistance. If we want progress, we must always move from the status quo. It will take courage, leadership, patience and sometimes sacrifice” Dogara stressed.
In an address of welcome, Executive Director, Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria, Reverend Joseph Hayab said dialogue and sensitization of citizens on the tax reform bill remains crucial to remove misgivings generated.
Reverend Hayab alluded to scriptural injunctions where christians were enjoined to be faithful in tax payment.
“Nigeria must move forward. Hence, citizens should not engage in religious or ethnic sentiments or divisive patterns to derail Nigeria’s progress. Nigeria must not continue in the old ways, which have delayed our progress. Nations are built on the positive contributions of citizen”
Other speakers and panelists at the forum all agreed on the need for robust engagement of citizens on critical decisions affecting the socio- economic and political life of the nation.
The town hall meeting tagged “Tax Reforms and Matters Arising” organized by the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria attracted christian religious leaders from the north.
