Tax Reform Bills: Governors Ignored Us, Only Sanwo-Olu And Uba Sani Agreed To Meet – Oyedele

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has dismissed allegations that the committee failed to engage with Nigerian governors, revealing that four scheduled meetings were canceled by the governors.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an appearance on Arise Television, Oyedele explained that the committee had held extensive consultations, including in-person meetings with over 120 Muslim clerics from the north and the League of Democrats, to discuss the proposed tax reforms.

His comments were in response to allegations made by elder statesman Buba Galadima, who claimed on the same program that the tax reforms were biased in favor of Lagos and Ogun states. Galadima accused the committee of only consulting Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu while ignoring other states. He also suggested that some committee members distanced themselves from the report, alleging that the chairman made decisions without consulting others.

Oyedele defended the committee’s diverse composition, which includes representatives from 20 government agencies, the private sector, and 45 students from 22 universities across Nigeria. He emphasized the committee’s wide-ranging consultations with various stakeholders, including finance commissioners, heads of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), manufacturers, SMEs, and FinTech experts.

Regarding the governors’ lack of engagement, Oyedele revealed that the committee had contacted six governors from different geopolitical zones but only managed to meet with Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu and Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe.

He criticized the Governors’ Forum for their lack of cooperation, stating that the governors canceled four scheduled meetings and limited the committee’s discussions to a mere 15-minute meeting late at night.

Oyedele highlighted the urgency of the tax reforms, noting that swift action was necessary to address Nigeria’s economic challenges and ensure sustainable development. He explained that the committee worked to expedite the reforms due to the limited time remaining in the current government’s tenure.

He rejected claims of unilateral decision-making, insisting that all provisions were thoroughly debated, with votes taken on contentious issues. Oyedele also dismissed allegations that committee members had disowned the report, challenging critics to provide proof to back their claims.