Former Vice President and one-time presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on the National Assembly to adopt transparency and fairness in its public hearings on the Tax Reform Bills. Atiku emphasized the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement to ensure that the proposed legislation aligns with the collective interests of Nigerians.
In a post shared via his official account on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Atiku highlighted the importance of a fiscal system that promotes justice and equity while fostering balanced development across the country.
“I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest,” he wrote. “Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity. They are loud and clear that the fiscal system we seek to promote must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by enhancing the status of a few states while unduly penalising others.”
The former Vice President urged the National Assembly to make the public hearing process inclusive, welcoming contributions from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and subject matter experts.
Calling for transparency, he added, “I firmly believe that transparency and objectivity are essential for promoting accountability, good governance, and public trust in policy-making.”
Atiku further stressed the importance of revisiting and publicizing resolutions from the National Economic Council (NEC), an advisory body constitutionally empowered to provide the President with counsel on the economic affairs of the nation. He noted that such resolutions are critical to ensuring that the final provisions of the Tax Reform Bills reflect the true aspirations of the Nigerian populace.
“The NASS must be appropriately guided and ensure that in the final analysis, the contents of the Bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians,” he concluded.
