Adebayo Adenrele
A former lawmaker representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise, has thrown his weight behind tax reform bill introduced by President Bola Tinubu, saying the country can not survive without any form of taxation.
The lawmaker stated this while addressing journalists over the weekend.
Arise said that the country under the current political dispensation has focused more on exportation of goods and services, adding that the tax reform bill will further strengthen its export capacity.
His words, “No nation can survive without one form of taxation or the other. Otherwise, there is no way the country can generate income. We have been talking about subsidy removal and everyone knows this country can no longer live on that single product.
“The president wants to see the country generate more revenue. If you look at the excise levies, Nigerians are now exporting more than under any previous government. These are part of the achievements of this government. People are beginning to be productive. They are exporting in droves. They are exporting our culture, including our clothes.
“They are exporting our textiles and other items like cashews. I had an opportunity of speaking with the Comptroller-General of Customs and I asked him questions concerning our exports. In the past people used to bring in so many products but the ships returned almost with no cargo. That is no longer the case. So, things are improving in terms of activities at the customs because we are exporting more”.