Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has urged Nigerians to refrain from politicising the tax reform bills currently under deliberation in the National Assembly.
Osifo made the appeal during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
The four bills, presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, include the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The proposed reforms have sparked controversy, with the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) raising concerns about their implementation and calling for equitable policies across all regions.
Speaking on the matter, Osifo acknowledged that public concerns about the bills were expected but cautioned against infusing tribalism and ethnicity into the discourse.
“Those undertones are clearly there. It started from the Northern Governors Forum; it metamorphosed into the General Governors’ Forum, and it went into the National Economic Council,” Osifo said.
“At this stage of our development, we should be wary. We shouldn’t politicise everything. Bringing in tribal talks or ethnicity, I don’t think this is right.”
