Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has cautioned against politicising the proposed tax reform bills currently under review in the National Assembly. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Osifo urged stakeholders to prioritize national interest over tribal or ethnic sentiments.

President Bola Tinubu introduced the four bills Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, and Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 on October 3. The bills have since faced pushback from state governors, some of whom advocate their withdrawal to allow broader consultations.

“Those undertones are clearly there,” Osifo remarked. “It started from the Northern Governors Forum, metamorphosed into the General Governors’ Forum, and then to the National Economic Council. At this stage of our development, we should avoid politicising everything, especially with tribal or ethnic undertones.”

While disagreements persist, the South-South Senators’ Forum has expressed support for the reforms, citing their potential to boost national revenue and economic stability. In a statement by Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), the forum emphasized the need for thorough evaluation to ensure the reforms align with national interests while particularly benefiting the South-South region.

The senators called on South-South governors to collaborate with the Senate in refining the bills and cautioned against introducing regional or ethnic biases into the discourse. They also commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio for his leadership and pledged their commitment to constructive legislative efforts.

The forum underscored the importance of unity and robust consultations, emphasizing that the reforms should focus on fostering economic growth and national cohesion.