By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Prof. Abdulqadir Ibrahim Abikan, has expressed his confidence in the ability of the Tax Reform Bill 2024 currently before the National Assembly (NASS) to transform the economy of Nigerians, especially the poor, describing it as one of the best things to happen to the country.
The DG who stated this while fielding questions from journalists on the occasion of the 2025 Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Founders’ Day Lecture held at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja on Monday, 17 March, said the reform would make more funds available to government for development, without stressing the poor.
He however stressed that the success of the reform hinges on implementation at the end of the day.
He said, “A lot of people that are suffering would be relieved of the task burden. But like I said, my take about this is that in as much as this tax reform will bring more funds to the government, there’s still a question to be asked: How is the fund going to be used?
“It’s one thing to make more money, it’s another to apply it judiciously for Infrastructure development in such a manner that it would be of benefit to all
“Because, like the guest lecturer said, a few people have a lot of resources of Nigeria in their hands, that 20 per cent of Nigerians have 80 per cent of the resources. it means that if the 20 percent are made to pay taxes accordingly, more money will come to government, and many people who are poor, that were previously targeted will be relieved.
“So it depends on the implementation. If it’s well implemented, then we’re going to achieve the desired result.”