Tax reform bills will make States more accountable – Sunday Dare
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has stated that the newly introduced Tax Reform Bills will compel state governments to take greater responsibility in revenue generation.
Speaking on Sunday, Dare commented on data highlighting internally generated revenue (IGR) from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the revenue allocations received from the federal government.
The data provided a breakdown of each zone’s contributions and the federal allocations they received.
The South-West region, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States, contributed ₦3.11 trillion in IGR but received ₦849.71 billion, amounting to just 27.4% of their contributions.
In the South-South, which includes Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, and Edo States, the region contributed ₦1.08 trillion but received ₦543.49 billion, representing 50.3% of their IGR.
The North-West region, made up of Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Zamfara States, generated ₦211.27 billion but received ₦574.32 billion, 271.8% higher than their IGR.
Similarly, the North-East region, which includes Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States, contributed ₦174.50 billion but received ₦411.84 billion, an increase of 236%.
The North-Central region, comprising Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau States, contributed ₦154.54 billion but received ₦408.66 billion, 264.4% more than their contributions.
Meanwhile, the South-East region, which includes Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, and Imo States, contributed ₦101.09 billion but received ₦341.46 billion, representing a staggering 337.8% increase over their IGR.
Reacting via his X handle, Dare emphasized that the Tax Reform Bills are designed to address these disparities, ensure fairness, and promote equity in revenue sharing across the country.
“Facts don’t Lie. This Government will always put the facts on the table for all Nigerians. President Tinubu is an unrepentant progressive and you can add nationalist to that. The Tax Reform Bills he is championing is rooted in the deep conviction that the Federal Government and the Sub-nationals have responsibilities and must live up to them. He is baking a bigger cake but wants equity, fairness and justice,” he wrote.
