Suffering: Nigerian Governor Refuses to Sign New Tax Bill into Law, Promises to “Fight Poverty, Not the Poor”

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has withheld his assent from the Presumptive Tax Bill recently passed by the state House of Assembly on the ground that such a law would not be friendly to the poor. On Wednesday, September 18, the governor withheld his assent from the bill on the argument that he could not endorse a policy that would further oppress the poor people of Oyo State.

The *Punch*, in a report, quoted Governor Makinde as hinging his disposition on the fact that with the country facing unrepentant economic challenges, the majority of the citizens have been thrown into abject hunger and anger. “People are hungry and angry because of the harsh economic realities in the country,” said Makinde. “Anything that will put money in the pockets of the people is what I am interested in. At this time, I am not interested in any policy that will empty their pockets. I’ll continue to fight poverty and not fight the poor.”

Makinde made the declaration during the flag-off ceremony for the upgrade of Samuel Akintola Airport to an international standard. He allayed the public that as much as the bill was intended to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue of the state, such was ill-conceived, given the plight of economic hardship many citizens had found themselves in. He, however, appreciated the Oyo State House of Assembly for such efforts and the initiative behind the bill, which he said was well-intentioned, though not well-timed.

On Thursday, September 14, the Oyo State House of Assembly passed the Presumptive Tax Bill, 2023. The law would make provisions for the imposition, administration, and collection of taxes payable by individuals and businesses whose incomes cannot be determined satisfactorily due to the lack of financial records. The target of presumptive tax would include workers in the informal sector of the economy like barbers, mechanics, hairdressers, carpenters, bricklayers, welders, plumbers, photographers, among others, operating on a small scale.

While the bill was meant to increase state revenue, Makinde has remained resolute in his position not to allow the implementation of the bill because, as he said, his priority remains alleviating poverty and not over-burdening those who cannot afford to pay. He promised to be committed to only such policies that lift the people up and not make lives more miserable for them.