The Deputy National Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Prince Nwaeze Onu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the proposed tax reform bills to allow for wider consultation with stakeholders across the country.
Onu made this appeal in his New Year message to Nigerians, which was released to journalists in Abuja on Friday.
The appeal follows President Tinubu’s recent nationwide broadcast, where he declared that there would be no going back on the tax reform bills.
The four proposed legislations, which have passed a second reading at the National Assembly, have drawn significant criticism in recent weeks, particularly from the 19 Northern governors and other regional stakeholders.
Onu insisted that such sensitive bills should not be passed unilaterally.
The NNPP chieftain argued that the current government must revise some of its policies to positively impact Nigerians and provide them with hope for a better future.
“The President must urgently halt the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, especially considering the precarious state of the economy and how citizens are struggling to afford their daily needs.
The tax reform bills should be dropped to allow for wider consultation with stakeholders. We also encourage Nigerians to remain hopeful, as this is the only way to overcome the challenges facing the country,” he said.
Onu further criticised alleged attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to suppress opposition political parties, warning that such actions are detrimental to democracy.
“Every ruling government needs a viable opposition to scrutinise its policies and make valuable recommendations for success,” he added.
In a related development, the NNPP deputy chairman appealed to Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, to focus on sustaining a functional educational system, building on the foundation laid by previous administrations.
He said, “There is a need to reduce the cost of governance in the state. The funds coming into the state from the federation account have increased. Rather than spending these funds on purchasing exotic vehicles, they should be directed toward maintaining a functional educational system, as Dr Sam Egwu’s administration did.
“Nwifuru should also adopt modern approaches to governance to ensure his policies are far-reaching and impactful on the lives of the state’s citizens
(PUNCH)