Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and founder of the
Kukah Centre, Most Reverend Mathew Kukah, shared is views regarding the the
controversial tax reform bills of Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The fiery cleric said the bills were what the country
needed to catapult it into economic prosperity.
The bill, which has passed the second reading at the
Senate, is facing vehement pushback from different quarters, especially from
elites in Northern Nigeria.
Notable northern groups and figures like The Northern
Governors Forum, the Northern Elders Forum, the National Economic Council, and
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, among others, have publicly voiced their opposition
to the bill and demanded its withdraw.
According to them, the provisions of the bill do not
reflect the region’s interests and would only worsen the poverty,
underdevelopment and other socio-economic challenges the region is already
grappling with.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on
Tuesday, Kukah asserted that the bills would halt the fiscal impunity and
financial recklessness of the elites.
He urged the Federal Government to ensure that the
ongoing reforms lead to the country’s development, adding that the
mismanagement of the nation’s resources by its elites have left it in ruinous
state.
He said the enormous human and natural resources
Nigeria is endowed with must be properly harnessed and utilised in order to
stem the tide of violence among its energetic youths.
“Nigeria is a very energetic country with people that
are so eminently gifted and are roaring to soar at any time.
“However, our problem is the inability of states to
create enough gatherings to contain the energy, vision, and competing
narratives of their citizens. This lack of competitive gatherings often spills
over into violence.
“But I hear you when you speak about all the issues
identified. And I am excited about the issue of tax reform bills because,
first, I know nothing about it. But I have started educating myself.
“Any form of reform at all must get this thoroughly
dysfunctional country working again.
“So I am excited because hopefully, we can take the
time to listen to the conversation about how to avoid and end this financial
recklessness, and the irony of Nigerians living by the seaside and washing
their faces with saliva.
“The reforms should end the narrative of Nigerians
living in a country that is so richly endowed but are spectators to the
rascality and irresponsibility of the elites who continue to mismanage our
resources.
“So I’m hopeful that this is the beginning of a very
long journey of fiscal management and efficiency that can lead to the growth
and development of the kind of country that we envision,” the cleric said
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