The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has stated that the tax reforms proposed by President Bola Tinubu are expected to boost Nigeria’s revenue and expand the national budget to five times its current size.
Abbas made these remarks in Abuja during a casual interaction with Nigerian youth, organized by the Office of the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), an event titled “An Evening with 004.”
He elaborated that the government is actively exploring new strategies to prevent revenue leakages, ensuring that the nation has sufficient funds to support critical projects and services.
According to a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Leke Baiyewu, Abbas noted that the existing financial resources available to the government are inadequate to fulfill the needs of the Nigerian populace. This shortfall often leads to ministries and agencies being tasked with managing their allocated resources more stringently.
Despite these challenges, he expressed hope that President Tinubu’s tax reform initiatives would significantly enhance the country’s revenue generation capabilities.
During the event, the Speaker also took the opportunity to discuss various national issues. He credited the unity and harmony within the House to the strong support from its members, emphasizing that they are receiving their rightful entitlements and benefits, regardless of their political, religious, or ethnic backgrounds.
Reflecting on the lessons he has learned throughout his journey, which he intends to share with his children, the Speaker encouraged Nigerian youth to practice honesty and transparency in their interactions, asserting that these qualities would foster public trust and lead to success.
Additionally, he shared his reasons for considering President Tinubu as his primary mentor. He remarked, “I have numerous role models. Asiwaju is certainly one of them, primarily due to his history of advocating for people’s rights, from his days as a senator to his time as governor. I have witnessed him maintain relationships with the same group of individuals for over 40 years, which is a rarity among Nigerians. Thus, he stands as my role model in this regard.”
