Senator Ndume Rejects VAT Increase, Calls On Government To Protect Low-Income Citizens

Senator Ndume Rejects VAT Increase, Calls On Government To Protect Low-Income Citizens....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the National Assembly, has spoken out against a proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT), urging the federal government to reconsider imposing higher taxes on low-income Nigerians………..CONTINUE READING

Currently, a bill under consideration aims to raise VAT from 7.5% to 10% by 2025, with plans for an additional increase to 12.5% by 2029. Ndume expressed his concerns in an interview on Arise Television, warning that these increases would disproportionately impact Nigeria’s struggling citizens.

According to Ndume, millions of Nigerians are barely surviving, and any further tax hikes would only intensify the financial burden on the country’s most vulnerable. He urged the government to look for alternative revenue sources rather than pushing the tax burden onto those least able to afford it.

“We’re at risk of losing the middle class in Nigeria. People are either wealthy or they’re barely getting by, with the middle squeezed out,” Ndume said. “If Nigerians could afford these taxes, it would be different, but given the current economic situation, raising taxes is not the solution. I won’t support any VAT increase.”

He stressed the importance of improving economic conditions to ensure that Nigerians can live sustainably, noting that poverty rates are highest in northern Nigeria and that an indiscriminate tax increase would hit low-income families the hardest. Instead, he suggested targeting those who can afford to pay, emphasizing that wealthier individuals often avoid taxes altogether.

“I plan to actively oppose any tax increases for now. This isn’t just about the North; it’s about the average Nigerian. People who can’t afford to pay more should not be forced to bear the brunt,” he added. “Tax authorities should focus on those with the ability to pay.”