The Benue State government has backed President Bola Tinubu’s controversial Tax Reform Bills, currently before the National Assembly.
The declaration of support comes amid opposition to the bills by several Northern states.
According to the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Mr. Michael Oglegba, “The Tax Reform Bill is largely a good bill. We support the effort of the Federal Government to grow tax revenues.”
Oglegba made this statement during an interview in Makurdi on Monday.
Recall that the Northern Governors Forum had earlier rejected the bill, particularly the Value Added Tax-sharing template. At a meeting in Kaduna, the governors directed federal lawmakers from their respective states to vote against the bills when they came up for debate in both chambers of the National Assembly.
Furthermore, the National Economic Council presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, had advised the Federal Government to withdraw the bills to create room for broader consultations among critical stakeholders. However, President Tinubu turned down this advice.