Minister Isa Pantami Pushes to Halt Tax Reform Bills

Isa Ali Pantami, the former minister of communications and digital economy, has urged the National Assembly to put a stop to further debates on the controversial tax reform proposals that are presently being considered.

In order to resolve misunderstandings and constitutional difficulties, Pantami reaffirmed the necessity of holding more extensive consultations with all pertinent parties.

Pantami raised reservations about a number of provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administrative Bill, 2024, in a post on his X account, @ProfIsaPantami. He claimed that ambiguous definitions and possible regulatory exploitation present serious difficulties.

Although Pantami acknowledged that the law might enhance Nigerian tax administration, he pointed out some aspects, including Section 3(3), Section 7(6), and the supremacy clause in Section 141, that need to be carefully examined to make sure they are in line with the constitution and the interests of the country.

In order to ensure that programs are implemented successfully, the former minister also emphasized the significance of restoring public confidence in the administration.

He called on the legislature to show leadership by going over controversial clauses again and making space for input from professionals in law, business, and policy.

His words: “Several sections of the bill make me uncomfortable, primarily because they lack clear definitions, which could lead to significant challenges during implementation. Furthermore, regulatory bodies may exploit these ambiguities when developing their regulatory instruments.

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Considering this, I provide the National Assembly (NASS) with two recommendations:

“i) Suspend Legislative Action for now as some of the challenges could not be addressed by the chambers alone. In leadership, the ability to change one’s mind is a sign of intelligence and empathy, not weakness; and

“ii) Allow for wider consultations on the bills, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are contacted and any ambiguities are effectively reviewed and addressed.”