Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed allegations that his panel failed to consult Nigerian governors before proposing major tax reform bills.
Oyedele clarified the situation during an interview on Arise TV yesterday, countering claims made by elder statesman Buba Galadima.
Galadima had accused the committee of neglecting to engage governors, particularly outside Lagos and Ogun States, in crafting the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
These proposed laws aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax collection and administration systems, sparking intense debates, especially in northern Nigeria, where groups like the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Elders Forum have expressed opposition.
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Addressing these criticisms, Oyedele revealed that multiple meetings with state governors were cancelled by the governors themselves.
He said the committee sought to meet with six governors, one from each geopolitical zone, but only the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu honoured the invitation.
According to him, the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani also expressed willingness, but the meeting ended up being hosted by his deputy due to scheduling conflicts.
Oyedele disclosed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) cancelled four scheduled meetings with the committee.
On a fifth attempt, he said the committee was kept waiting until 1:30 a.m. before being granted just 15 minutes to present its work.
Oyedele added that the committee had more than four engagements with finance commissioners across the country and over 40 sessions with Internal Revenue Service heads.
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He said the committee consulted extensively with private-sector groups, including manufacturers, SMEs, women in business, and FinTech stakeholders,” Oyedele said.
Oyedele maintained that the committee also engaged with over 120 northern clerics and various northern groups, including the League of Northern Democrats, to address misinformation about the proposed reforms.
“Many clerics, after understanding our proposals, prayed for the success of our work,” he noted.
He emphasised the committee’s openness to dialogue, expressing readiness to continue consultations to ensure the reforms benefit all Nigerians. “If invited, we’ll gladly engage, even with less than 24 hours’ notice,” he said.
