A former Secretary to the Anambra State Government under former Governor Peter Obi, Oseloka Obaze, has said the Tax Reform Bill lacked the basic tenets of attribution before derivation.
Obaze said the contents of the Tax Reform Bill were intended to favour Lagos State and Ogun State to the detriment of other states in the country.
The former Anambra Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in 2017 argued that if the bill is passed, it won’t be beneficial to man states.
“As a goverance and policy expert, I’ve followed the Tax Reform Bill debate and public response closely. The truth is that the Bill is grossly skewed in favour of some states. It lacks the basic tenet of attribution before derivation. 
“If an individual did what the FGN is trying to do with the tax reform bill, he or she will be charged with 419 – attempting to obtain funds under false pretense. The rest of the federation cannot pay taxes that will disproportionately benefit Lagos and Ogun State,” Obaze wrote on his X handle.
Meanwhile, a former PDP chairman in Ebonyi State, Barrister Silas Onu, has put his weight behind the Tax Reform Bill.
Onu argued that it was wrong to have a federalized tax system. He stated that the federal government should not have a hand in tax.
The PDP chieftain praised President Bola Tinubu for the bill. He added that the bill, if passed, would enhance competition among states.
“It is unjust to have a federalized Tax System. Apart from import and export duties (which are tariffs), the Federal Government should not even have any hand in tax. States and LGAs are supposed to tax companies within their territories and use such funds to develop.
“This will enhance competition to make states secure and safe for businesses. Bola Tinubu tax reform is a very good first step towards a true fiscal federalization of Nigeria. I support it,” Onu stated.
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