Tax Reform Bills Will Pass, Heavens Won’t Fall – Senator Dickson

• Senator Seriake Dickson asserts that the National Assembly will pass the tax reform bills, likening it to the Petroleum Industry Act
• Dickson encourages public participation in hearings, urging stakeholders to present factual evidence regarding concerns over the proposed tax reforms

Senator Seriake Dickson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, has declared that the National Assembly will pass the proposed tax reform bills despite opposition from various quarters.

Dickson, representing Bayelsa West (PDP), likened the process to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), stressing that resistance will not hinder progress.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Dickson assured Nigerians that the legislative process for the tax bills will be thorough. He urged those concerned to present their arguments during the upcoming public hearings.

“The PIA was passed despite strong opposition. Some of us wanted 10% for host communities as proposed by Yar’Adua, but it was reduced to 3%. Heavens did not fall. These tax reform bills will also pass, and heavens won’t fall,” Dickson stated.

President Bola Tinubu submitted the tax reform bills to the National Assembly on October 3, 2024, outlining their purpose in a letter from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas.

According to Tinubu, the bills aim to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal institutions and align with his administration’s broader development goals.

However, the bills have faced opposition from governors, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and some lawmakers. Despite this, the Senate has already passed the bills for a second reading, while the House of Representatives has yet to deliberate on them.

Dickson dismissed concerns that the public hearings on the bills might become chaotic, urging stakeholders to present factual evidence during the hearings. He emphasized the need to correct anomalies in the country’s tax laws, including ensuring taxes are paid to the states where goods or services are consumed.

“Currently, taxes from Bayelsa State are paid to Lagos State, and that needs to change,” Dickson said. “This reform provides an opportunity to address such issues.

If some states feel disadvantaged by the proposed sharing formula, they should present data, not sentiments.”

The senator reiterated his support for the bills, stating that his stance is guided by national interest and the need for equity in Nigeria’s fiscal policies.

Public hearings are expected to offer a platform for robust debate and the refinement of the proposed laws.