Governors Threaten Lawmakers Over Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills, Says House Deputy Spokesman
Deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has revealed that some state governors are threatening to withhold re-election tickets for federal lawmakers in 2027 if they support President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Agbese accused the governors of resorting to intimidation to derail the passage of the proposed legislation, which aims to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system and boost economic growth.
The tax reform bills, transmitted by Tinubu to the National Assembly in September, include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. These measures seek to create a streamlined legal framework for taxation, establish a tax tribunal and ombudsman, and replace the Federal Inland Revenue Service with the Nigeria Revenue Service.
However, the 36 state governors have called for their withdrawal, citing inadequate consultation and the need for more public input.
Despite the opposition, Agbese vowed that the House would push forward with the bills to support Tinubu’s efforts to “reboot the economy.” He noted that lawmakers remain united across party lines in their commitment to pass reforms that serve the national interest.
“Some governors are threatening members from their states, even warning that they would deny them return tickets in 2027 if they support the bills,” Agbese said. “But we are intellectually sound, progressive-minded, and pro-Nigeria. Our allegiance is to our constituents, not the governors.”
He further quoted a Bible verse, Isaiah 54:15, to affirm his faith in the resilience of the lawmakers: “Behold, they shall surely gather, but not by me. Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.”
To ensure informed deliberations, the House has scheduled a session with Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, and other tax experts. The engagement aims to clarify the merits and address concerns about the proposed laws.
“We’ve distributed copies of the bills to members for study. Monday’s session will help refine our understanding and prepare us for debates in plenary,” Agbese added.
While many legislators back the reforms, opinions differ on the approach. Afam Ogene, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, urged patience and dialogue during Monday’s session, emphasizing the legislature’s responsibility to make laws in the country’s best interest.
Another lawmaker, Odianosen Okojie from Edo State, called for swift passage of the bills, praising Tinubu’s bold policy initiatives. “The governors should embrace these reforms because they represent a win-win for all stakeholders,” he said.
In contrast, PDP lawmaker Oluwole Oke from Osun State pledged to work within committees to ensure amendments reflect public concerns before final passage.
As the National Assembly resumes plenary on Tuesday, the tax reform bills are set to dominate debates in both chambers. The outcome of these deliberations could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fiscal policies, with implications for governance, revenue generation, and federal-state relations.
Efforts to obtain comments from Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
