Senator Seriake Dickson confirmed the National Assembly's commitment to passing tax reform bills despite opposition. He emphasized correcting revenue allocation anomalies and urged stakeholders to participate in public hearings. Dickson highlighted the reforms’ potential to ensure fairness and foster state-level competition in tax revenue distribution, likening the process to the Petroleum Industry Act.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will proceed with passing the tax reform bills despite opposition from various quarters. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Dickson likened the bills’ approval process to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which faced similar resistance but was eventually enacted.
The proposed tax reforms, submitted to the National Assembly by President Tinubu on October 3, 2024, aim to address long-standing anomalies in revenue distribution among states. Despite criticisms from civil society groups, traditional rulers, governors, and lawmakers, the Senate has already advanced the bills to the second reading stage, while the House of Representatives is yet to take action.
Senator Dickson emphasized the need for fairness, noting that taxes generated from goods and services in states like Bayelsa are often paid elsewhere, such as Lagos. He expressed support for the reforms, arguing they would ensure taxes are allocated to their originating states. Dickson also encouraged critics to participate in the upcoming public hearings to share their views constructively.
The senator dismissed fears about the reforms, stating, “The heavens didn’t fall when the PIA was passed; they won’t now.” He highlighted the opportunity to rectify existing inequities in tax law and foster healthy competition among states for internally generated revenue, underscoring the reforms’ alignment with national interests.
