The Kano State House of Assembly has kicked against the tax reform bills currently undergoing legislative action before the National Assembly.
The rejection of the bills followed deliberations on the floor of the House as presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ismail Falgore during Monday’s plenary.
The Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Husseini, who represents Dala State constituency, in a motion of ‘urgent public importance,’ presented the needs for northern lawmakers as well as the Conference of Speakers not to allow the bills see the light of the day.
According to him, when passed into law, the bills will not be in favour of the people in the north, saying the decision of the Senate to pass the bills is totally condemnable.
“We view it as a calculated plan to sabotage the economy and even increase the hardship and impoverish the region in general.
“The pattern or arrangement in that law to allocate VAT is worrisome because some states will suffer and states like Lagos would take major share of that collection because most of the major headquarters of the Nigerian banks, telecommunications companies, Dangote and Bua companies, as well as other multinational company headquarters are situated in Lagos. So, the 80 percent of the VAT collected in Nigeria will be to Lagos and its environs whereas some other states in Northern Nigeria will take a minimal share.”
Hon. Husseini however noted that, this will further weaken some states in the region, explaining that some of them may not be able to pay salaries, leading to an increase in hardship and poverty, among others.
Supporting the motion, Hon Salisu Mohammed, representing Doguwa constituency further opined that the upper legislative House should focus their attention on other sensitive issues which affects the lives of Nigerians such as insecurity and unemployment, adding that the tax reform bills should not be subjected to a hasty legislative process.
Similarly, Hon. Murtala Kadage, member representing Garko constituency highlighted on the need to unite as representatives of the people to ensure the bill is not passed for the good of the region.
The House called on members of the Senate and House of Representatives, especially those from the Northern part of the country, including and members of the Conference of Speakers to act swiftly to prevent the passing of the bills.
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