A Lagos lawmaker, Honourable Jude Emeka Idimogu, has tackled the Federal Government for proposing to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) on imported and locally-produced goods from 5 to 10%.
Honourable Jude Emeka Idimogu
Idimogu, a representative of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, asked the government at the centre to justify what it had spent previous taxes it collected over the years on before proposing an increase.
He emphasized that the Nigerian economy is not ripe for any increment in VAT, and that a lot of businessmen and women are struggling to survive.
The Lawmaker also said the new administration must be seen as one that can bark and bite in the fight against corruption especially in the area of tax collection.
He said: “Maybe the government is trying to boost their revenue generation considering the fact that the price of oil has fallen.
“But the government should see if businesses are doing well as this will affect the staff of these businessmen/women and every other thing.
“It is not something they should just do, they can call a stakeholders meeting to sort out the issue.”
There is a general belief that lawmakers across the country lobby for juicy committees and have as a result, commercialized their oversight functions, but Idimogu said such insinuations are not correct.
“When you say the lawmakers have commercialized their oversight functions, it means they can be bought over easily.
“The truth is that there are a lot of committees and some people say some of the committees are juicy. I cannot say much on that because I am new in the system.
“The legislature is watching the executive and it is vice versa and even the judiciary is being watched.
“We are here to better the lives of the people and the best way to go about it is to do our best at all times,” he said.
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