A member of the 44-man committee set up by House of Representatives to preside over public hearing on the new tax bill, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo, has urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government over the proposed new tax reform bill, saying it was initiated for the good of the citizens.
Akinlayo, who is representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II (Ido-Osi, Moba, Ilejemeje), also said the move was part of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in fixing the nation’s ailing economy and rescue it from total collapse.
Speaking in his Ikosu Ekiti country home in Moba local government area during an empowerment programme for constituents, the lawmaker stated that the bill was to ensure that Nigerians particularly, small scale business owners, low income and the likes have more benefits from the tax they are paying.
At the event, items like sewing machine, grinding machine, motorcycles, fridges, generating sets, bags of fertilisers, roofing sheets, knapsack spraying machines, hair dryers among other items were distributed.
The lawmaker, who stated that the empowerment programme was to give back to the society that has done so much for him, informed hundreds of students of higher institutions also bursary worth millions.
He said: “We have also given cash gift to a lot of people, majority, the aged and the widows . No fewer than 320 of them were selected from across the federal constituency and given fifty thousand naira each as start up pack for petty business. The were also given clothing materials.
“We are giving out all of these to empower, uplift and to improve the living standard of our people who mostly artisans.
“These will do lot in their life because at the moment , things are hard in our society , the little we are doing is to ease the hardship and give them succour. This is just the beginning as we are going to do more with the programme holding on quarterly basis.
“People have been talking about Value Added Tax (VAT), the consuming tax, which means whatever you consume, you pay tax on it.
“But there were claims that some area consume a particular commodity or commodities more than others. For instance, there business transactions taking place in a particular state and the VAT on them are being filed in another state, which take the benefits.
“What the presidency is trying to achieve is to ensure that, it is the place, where goods and items are consumed that will get the VAT benefits.
“The move is aimed at centralizing distribution of VAT across board and also designed to tax the rich to pay for the poor.With the new tax bill , any business below 50 million naira will not pay taxes.Also, if you are not earning up to certain amount, from level 8 below will not pay taxes . It will be a kind of tax holiday for the people”.
He posited that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration is working hard as the ruling party and as government and no political force wrestle power from the party come 2027.
He argued the President removed fuel subsidy and floated the exchange in order for Nigeria not to collapse.
“If such step is not taken about Naira , we will be allowing our currency to determine its value. Before , we are using Naira to back the dollar and it is not done anywhere.
“But the president said no. It is high time that we faced the reality and take the bull by the horns. Now the economy of Nigeria is gradually picking up and things in terms of of our goods and services. Thing will continue to get better by God’s grace”.
Ekiti Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who was represented by his deputy,
Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said the strong partnership the lawmaker established with nine members of the National Assembly from the state is yielding the right dividends that are turning around the lives of the citizens.
He eulogised the lawmaker for his generosity and sense of patronage, saying he has demonstrated commitment to human capital development as a pillar of his administration, with the quantum of materials distributed to the citizens.
