A former National Vice Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance(South West), Chief, Tayo Sowunmi has expressed his strong backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration initiated various tax reform bills before the National Assembly, so as to improve on revenue drive and revamp Nigeria's economy
The various tax reform bills have come under serious criticism, particularly from some stakeholders from the Northern part of the country led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who described the reform bills as time bomb waiting to be exploded, if the presidency insists on the bills and fails to withdraw it from the assembly, so as to address grey arrears in the bills especially on the aspects of Value Added Tax (VAT) which they claim, are capable of crippling resources to most states from the Federation Account on monthly basis
But the former member of APGA
Board of Trustee, Sobunmi in an interview with Edu-Biznews on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said such tax reform bills would be beneficial to every part of the country and make Nigeria as a country to generate more revenue to fund capital projects and make the economy more attractive for prospective local and foreign investors
He urged states to begin to look inward for development of their various untapped natural resources to generate more revenue to fund capital projects and run micro economy of their respective states without depending more on the statutory monthly allocation from the Federation Account ",every State in this country must be able to feed itself without depending solely on the monthly allocation from the centre"
The APGA Chieftain recalled with nostalgia how the economy of the country was bouyant in the 50s' and early 60s',under regional system of government where each of the regions was in charge of natural resources such as cocoa, rubber , groundnuts, coal and palm oil ,making them richer than government at the centre
He added that each of the regions, was independent and running effectively and was able to execute legacy projects in the Western , Eastern and Northern Regions, which engendered healthy economic competition and growth without depending on the allocation from the centre
Sowunmi however expressed confidence in the ability of President Tinubu to turn the economy around for greatness and prosperity of Nigerians in the coming year of 2025, considering the track record of how he transformed Lagos State as a former governor between 1999 and 2007
He noted the significance progress recorded in the economy with the removal of subsidy on the imported Premium Motor Spirit or petrol which later paved way for locally refined Petroleum products by the 650,000 barrel Dangote Refinery in Lekki , Lagos and 60,000 barrel Old Port Harcourt Refinery and led to crash in the prices of per litre of fuel from over N1,000 to N935 or there about across the country
He cited improvements in the power sector, saying the power generation and supply has greatly improved by the electricity distribution companies to support the manufacturing sector and boost local production
The Baba Adeen of Ijemoland, urged Nigerians to be more patient with the Tinubu's administration saying the last eighteen months was short a period to appraise the performance of an government which still has more than two years to end first term of four years
"Nigerians the given multi-ethnic and cultural and religious nature have always been impatient with every administration, we need to allow various economy initiatives by government to work for us , every leader is desirous of a better Nigeria and deserves our support to make progress in our country ", he stated
"There is no gains without pains, we are gradually reaping the gains of the pains caused by removal of subsidy on petrol by this administration", he added
Sowunmi however stressed the need for government to carry out a complete reform in the civil service system, attributing the roots of endemic corruption in the country to corrupt civil servants
He equally called on the political office holders to do internal cleansing of themselves and resolve to remove the pains inflicted on Nigerians and commit themselves to provide selfless and purposeful leadership to regain their confidence in governance of the country
No comments:
Post a Comment