Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has explained his reasons for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms, saying he was not supporting them because they were perfect but because it was the right thing to do.
He, however, conceded the fact that those opposed to it have the right to do so, saying, “But I do not share their jaundiced nay tenuous and puerile position that because they disagree with some aspects of the reforms, then the reforms must be withdrawn or killed.”
He said leaders who were dedicated to reforms and progress don’t make such poor judgment calls at all, according to a statement by his media aide, Turaki Hassan which was made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday.
Dogara added, “What is acceptable, to my mind, is that all those opposed to the reforms should clearly spell out what they are disagreeing with, and make better propositions than that of the president for us to compare and contrast in order to make informed choices. Even laws are subject to amendment when we discover there are mischiefs embedded in them that must be cured, much less proposals that have not been passed into law.
“For me, I did say because so many families are hurt, I do not subscribe to hiking any form of tax and the issue of derivation should be clearly spelt out in a manner that would leave no room for prevarication. I have my proposal in that regard and have no hesitation to stand my ground on any forum.”
He urged all who disagree with any aspect of the proposed reforms to do so, “But to say that our response to a call for long overdue beneficial reforms is that we should do nothing, is either bad politics or sheer buffoonery or a combination of both.”
According to him, addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges requires bold, decisive, and coordinated actions across multiple fronts.
Achieving this vision, according to him, will demand sacrifices, accountability and collective resolve from all Nigerians, and youths must be at the center of this transformation through education, innovation and a shared commitment to excellence. “We can build a Nigeria that fulfils the aspirations of its people. The time for action is now, not later or tomorrow, as we have not been promised tomorrow and with determination, we can turn these challenges into opportunities for a brighter future of incredible economic growth and prosperity,” he added.
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