State governors yesterday expressed support for the Finance Bill, which seeks to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) from five per cent to 7.5 per cent.

Vice-chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this at the NGF monthly meeting in Abuja.

He said: “We are in support of that bill. We are in support of what will definitely improve revenue generation for the Federal Government and states.

“We are appealing to those who don’t have a proper understanding of the context of the bill to kindly have a rethink and reflect on the quantum of work that is ahead of us as a country and as states.”

He noted: “We need a lot of resources to turn around infrastructure, to invest in education, health, in virtually every sector of our national life. So, there is an urgent need for more revenue for Nigeria. We appeal that we should show more understanding with the Federal Government in that regard.”

This came as the Senate yesterday passed the Finance Bill. According to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, the bill “is not putting taxes on Nigerians.” He explained: “What government is trying to do with this bill is to create the revenue necessary for us to create the environment where we are able to provide schools, health care and have an economy that works for everyone. With time, we should look at things to do in case some hard unintended consequences come up.”

He also thanked the lawmakers “for passing the seven Acts in the Finance Bill, to ensure that we streamline the tax system in Nigeria and ensure that we get revenue for the government to provide infrastructure for this country.”

He added: “What we have done is very significant because this is to ensure that we not only have sources of funding for the 2020 budget but also for subsequent activities of the government. The revenue-generating agencies will have to sit up. The Senate will be mounting a lot of oversight on the revenue agencies.

“We must ensure that any agency that is charged with generating revenue must discharge its function judiciously. What we have down is to create more revenue to provide infrastructure for the Nigerian people.”

Speaking in support of the bill, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya said: “The problem of our economy is the problem of revenue. The issue of the economy is beyond politics. Whether it is APC today or PDP tomorrow, we have to come out and look at this matter in a non-partisan way.”

Senator Ibikunle Amosun also threw his weight behind the bill saying: “The intention for our country will not be realised if we do not have sufficient revenue. All this money being generated will not be squandered or looted but will be judiciously used. I am urging our people that this is not about party but about our country. I will support this bill and will urge my colleagues that we should do away with partisanship.”

But Senator Abba Moro, a former Minister of Interior, maintained that the challenge with revenue in the country was poor management and not the lack of it.

Senator Ifeanyi Uba also faulted the public hearing, as it did not have representatives of major oil producers and petroleum marketers. He said: “I need to draw your attention to the amendment of the Petroleum Profit Tax Act (PPTA). It will be so bad for Nigerians. The industry is not growing, downstream and upstream. Looking at the PPTA, it is going to add more pains to Nigerians. I am of the opinion that it must be reviewed. I want to correct the committee. There was no representation from the industry in this public hearing. The tank farm owners association is not here. The major marketers are not here. So, I do not see a true reflection on the report of the committee.”

Senator Gabriel Suswam stressed that the bill would shock the people and urged the Federal Government to provide social safety nets for the masses. “Some of the amendments sought here are on tax revenue. To increase it, no matter how you see it, this is something that is going to affect all Nigerians,” he said.

“What I would have expected, I do not know whether that is in the offing, the Federal Government should also create a social safety net that will ameliorate the pains people are going to go through. This is a shock. People are not used to it and it has come so suddenly,” said Suswam.

While presenting his report, chairman of the committee, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, explained that the bill seeks to amend Nigeria’s tax provisions and make them more responsive to the tax policies of the Federal Government.

He added that the amendment and passage of the Finance Bill would enhance the implementation and effectiveness of the government’s tax policies.

According to him, the initiative to reform the tax system and the proposed modifications to the fiscal rules around taxation are clearly aimed at creating an enabling business environment aimed at minimising the tax burden for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Acts amended in the Finance Bill are Companies Income Tax Act, Cap C21 2004 (as amended to date); Value Added Tax Act, Cap VI, LHN 2007 (as amended), and Customs and Excise Tariff (Consolidation) Act, Cap C49, 2004.

Others are Personal Income Tax Cap P8, LFN 2007 (as amended); Capital Gains Tax Act Cap C1, LFN 2007; Stamp Duties Act Cap S8, LFN 2004, and the Petroleum Profit Tax Act (PPTA) 2004.