By Mahdi Waziri Isa
The Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has held its first symposium on Wednesday, 19th February, 2025.
The symposium, themed; ‘Understanding Nigeria’s Tax Reform: Political Bargains, Public Neglect and Economic Consequences of the Emerging Elites Consensus’ took place at the Faculty’s Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.
Presenting a paper on the theme of the symposium, Prof. Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi who is ABU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, explained that taxation plays the role of primary source of revenue for government that serve as a macroeconomic and income redistribution tool.
Prof. Rafindadi disclosed that to effectively perform these functions, taxation must not be static over a long period of time as has been the case in Nigeria, stressing that there is a need to seek a total overhaul of the entire tax Nigerian system by repealing every tax law and replacing it with those in the four bills before the National Assembly.
The Professor of Economics added that the current tax reform process has exposed the elite-driven decision making nature of Nigeria’s democracy, where the political bargaining prioritized issues that directly benefit the political elites, while neglecting other key issues in the reform that directly impacts the citizens and the long-term future of the Nigerian federation.
In a remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala congratulated the Faculty of Social Sciences for reviving the intellectual discourse it is known for, assuring that Management will give the symposium paper all the necessary publicity it deserves.
Prof. Bala called for collaboration between the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts in order to promote multidisciplinary research.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Shamsuddeen Mohammed, stated that the Faculty decided to revive the culture of intellectual discourse in order to acquaint individuals with current national issues and proffer solutions where necessary.
Prof. Shamsuddeen emphasized that symposiums such as this will enable people to have a clear understanding of certain policies initiated by the government.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, noted that coming together to address national issues is a community service.
Prof. Doko maintained that university intellectuals, have the capacity to diagnose government policies and to address challenges faced by the citizens.
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