Tax Reforms Will Ease Burden on Nigerians, Not Worsen Poverty — Shettima

V Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government’s planned tax reforms are designed to improve livelihoods and reduce the burden of multiple taxes on citizens, particularly small business owners and low-income earners.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Vice President said the reforms would simplify the tax system and eliminate overlapping levies that have long weighed down businesses and ordinary Nigerians.

Shettima made the remarks while representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at an interfaith breaking of fast organised to mark Ramadan and Lent at the State House. The event was attended by members of the Federal Executive Council, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, special advisers, senior special assistants, and heads of government agencies and parastatals.

According to him, the reforms have been carefully planned to improve the lives of Nigerians, contrary to claims by critics who argue that the measures could worsen poverty.

“The same people who are shouting hoarse that the tax reform is meant to pulverise further and pauperise the poor are far from the truth, but we have to go out and tell the truth to the people,” Shettima said.

“We have to educate them. We have to mount the pulpits and take our government to the Nigerian people and tell them the truth,” he added.

The Vice President urged government officials and political appointees to remain strong advocates of the administration’s policies and communicate the benefits of the reforms to Nigerians.

Shettima also highlighted what he described as early gains from the administration’s broader economic reforms. These, he said, include an increase in Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, the streamlining of exchange rates and the removal of fuel subsidy.

He noted that while the subsidy removal was not initially mentioned in President Tinubu’s 2023 inaugural speech, it became necessary because the system had long drained the nation’s resources.

“Three years down the road, the economy has bounced back,” the Vice President said.

Shettima commended President Tinubu for taking bold decisions that previous administrations avoided and thanked government officials for their support and partnership in implementing the reforms.

“On behalf of the President, I want to thank you all for comradeship, support and partnership,” he said.

The Vice President also urged officials to actively counter what he described as misinformation by opposition parties and ensure that accurate information about the administration’s achievements reaches Nigerians.