The Senate has passed the Finance Act(Amendment)bill, an executive bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, which seeks to amend the Petroleum Profit Tax Act, Customs and Excise Tariff Act, Company Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Stamp Duties Act and the Capital Gain Tax.
However, this action by the Senate has not gone done well with millions of Nigerians. They are of the opinion that rather than the passage of the executive bill, the law makers ought to have initiated bills to reduce hunger, poverty and unemployment in the land. Sadly, this is not the case. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says Government at all levels have been a great disappointment to Nigerians. Excerpts :
What is your reaction to the passage of the executive bill on taxes from the President by the Senate ?
The Government at all levels have been a great disappointment to Nigerians, most especially those of us who voted massively for those in power. The astronomical rise the prices of foodstuff has had a negative and direct impact on every household in the country today. Besides this, unemployment is the major challenge confronting the youth, who are said to be the leaders of tomorrow.
The few of the youth who are beneficiaries of the not to young to run law and are in the corridors of power, are yet to take the issue of unemployment seriously. In addition our infrastructural perception index is still at the bottom of the ladder. Nigerians clamored for change mainly because they observed that the 16 year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was full of corruption, self-enrichment and wastage. Nigerians then perceived the All Progressives Congress(APC) as the preferred alternative that could bring about positive change in terms of people friendly policies that would promote an all inclusive society, but till date women are still marginalized and majority of Nigerians are contending with impoverishment. Nepotism is now a vehicle for favored Nigerian children to get choice employment.
When are we to have a government that would show all seriousness in the business of emancipating Nigerians from the vicious cycle of poverty ?
Nigeria has got to the stage that it should have in place a committee of Thin-Tank, that would be a vanguard of upholding justice and the concept of equity that would prevent government activities from derailing in the course of action that would protect the fundamental human rights of the people, their welfare and development. They are expected to be proactive to forestall future agitations that could lead to violence, insurgency or even secession bid.
Government efforts to improve the living standards of Nigerians is not expected to bring hardship on the people because the resultant effect of this, is not always palatable.
Nigerians are actually in the dark on what government has done with funds recovered from public officials, this has made them to be skeptical about the government justification for the proposed 7.5 per cent increase in the Value Added Tax.
In the light of this, government should hold on until the cushion effects of the border closure restores the hopes of Nigerians in the policies of government. This must be taken with all seriousness because it is always easy for government to exploit the people without any challenge. Government must therefore heed this warning and focus on the people’s welfare and development, rather than aggravating the problems of the people.
This is to prevent a situation where the some groups would hide under various guises to instigate discontent and confusion.
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