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Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has praised the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, chairman of the presidential committee on tax policy and fiscal reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, and chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zaccheus Adedeji, for their roles in crafting the tax reform bill.
Naija News reports that the proposed tax reforms have sparked conversations across Nigeria, with stakeholders and some state Governors voicing their opinions on the bill’s implications.
In an interview on ARISE TV on Saturday, Kalu asserted that the reforms are non-political but necessary for economic growth, lauding the governors and key stakeholders supporting the reforms.
The lawmaker criticised the mindset of many Nigerians regarding the bill, stating that they are overly pampered and reluctant to embrace hard work.
Kalu described the existing tax laws as outdated and incapable of supporting Nigeria’s 21st-century economic aspirations, adding that many countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam that started with Nigeria have all left Nigeria behind.
He said, “We need to go to the tough area and come back to enjoy the tough area. It’s just that most Nigerians on the streets of Nigeria, we are over pampered, we don’t want to work.
“Most of the laws we are using today in Nigeria are very obsolete, they are gone, they are not functional laws. They are not laws that we should continue using in the 21st century and in a place that you want to remodel and reposition the economy.
“If we do not do what we are trying to do today, we will be left behind. We started with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and all the rest of them. Look at even Vietnam yesterday. They’ve all left us behind.” He stressed that implementing the reforms, though challenging in the short term, would yield long-term benefits for the nation.
“I must congratulate the author of the bill, President Ahmed Tinubu, and also Professor Oyedele and the chairman of FIRS, Mr. Zaccheus. I believe that this bill is good for all Nigerians. It’s not political, it’s not sectional, it is for the good of every state in Nigeria and every Nigerian to enjoy this bill.”
Kalu also expressed concern over Nigerians’ reluctance to embrace labour-intensive or innovative opportunities outside major cities, urging them to move beyond their comfort zones and engage in productive activities to secure the country’s future.
He added, “People only want to come and live in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Aba, or Kaduna. They don’t want to go to the farm. Nobody wants to think about tomorrow.”
The post Look At Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam Have All Left Nigeria Behind – Kalu Commends Tinubu’s Effort On Tax Bills appeared first on Naija News.
