By Ayo Ayodele
Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government’s new tax reforms are designed to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty, not to further burden citizens.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President Bola Tinubu (Information & Strategy) said Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at an interfaith breaking of fast for Ramadan and Lent held at the State House, Shettima said the reforms would eliminate multiple levies and charges that weigh heavily on small businesses and low-income earners.
The Vice President, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, dismissed criticisms from political opponents, describing claims that the tax reforms would pauperise Nigerians as false.
“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,” Shettima said. “We have to go out and tell the truth to the people. We have to educate them.”
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 agencies and parastatals.
Shettima urged government officials to remain strong advocates of the administration’s reforms and to actively counter misinformation from opposition parties.
He said the government remains genuinely concerned about the plight of Nigerians and is implementing policies aimed at lifting citizens out of poverty without adding to their financial burdens.
Highlighting key achievements of the administration’s economic reforms, the Vice President pointed to increased foreign exchange reserves, the unification of exchange rates, and the removal of the long-standing fuel subsidy, which he said had benefited only a privileged few.
Shettima acknowledged that the fuel subsidy removal was not originally included in the President’s 2023 inaugural speech but said the decision became necessary to prevent further economic drain.
He commended President Tinubu for what he described as the courage to tackle longstanding economic challenges that previous administrations avoided.
“Three years down the road, the economy has bounced back,” he said, expressing appreciation to government officials for their support and partnership in implementing the reforms.
The Vice President reiterated the administration’s commitment to transparent communication and called on public office holders to engage citizens directly on the benefits of ongoing reforms.