Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has thrown his weight behind the Tax Reforms Bills, hailing it as a forward-thinking legislation that will transform Nigeria’s economy.
Senator George Akume who recently appeared on TVC’s Politics highlighted the need for tax reforms in Nigeria. He emphasized that the current tax system, which has been in place for over 50 years, is outdated and fails to provide adequate benefits to Nigerians.
Akume urged critics to assess the tax reform bills based on their intent, purpose, and credibility, rather than being driven by sectional or primordial sentiments. He believes the bills are nationalistic and pro-poor in nature, aiming to promote economic growth and equitable revenue distribution.
“Solutions to complex problems are not as instant as instant coffee. The Federal Government and all tiers of governments have to come together to ensure prosperity in the land, he noted.”
While addressing issues surrounding fuel subsidy removal, Senator George Akume opined that removal of the fuel subsidy is the best decision the Federal Government has made for the people. He said he is confident that this move will ultimately benefit the nation. To soften the blow, the government has introduced alternatives like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and Conversion Kits.
Speaking on Local Government Autonomy, the SGF assured that the 10-man Inter-Ministerial Committee to Enforce the Supreme Court Judgement on Financial Autonomy to Local Governments will soon submit its report in compliance to the ruling of the apex court. He asserted that the Local Government Autonomy is not arbitrary, but is pursuant to the dictates of the Constitution of Nigeria which stressed the autonomy of the three tiers of Government.
On the implementation of the Oronsaye report, Senator Akume pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a bold step to commence the implementation of some parts of the report, since when the report was submitted by the previous Government without taking any action. He stressed that policy decisions have to be fine-tuned before full implementation to avoid duplication of functions among MDAs and in the best interest of Government and the people.
The SGF urged all Nigerians to come together and rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, giving him the support he needs to fulfill his mandates and bring prosperity to the entire nation.
