By Samson Adeyanju
Prominent Nigerian senator and Human Rights Advocate, Senator Shehu Sani, has called for a fair and equitable tax system in the country, urging critics of the President Bola Amen Tinubu’s proposed ‘Tax Reform Bill to set aside political biases and focus on its merits.
Reacting to revelations by the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), during a House of Representatives hearing, Senator Sani decried the disproportionate distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT), revenues in the country.
According to the FIRS, 70% of VAT revenues are generated by just four states—Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving the rest of the nation underfunded.
In a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), Senator Sani highlighted the imbalance, citing the example of telecom giant MTN, which remits most of its VAT to Lagos despite providing services nationwide.
He argued that such a system perpetuates “tax injustice” and reinforces economic disparities across states.
“The revelation made yesterday by the FIRS Chairman before the House of Reps that presently only four states corner 70% of VAT… is unjust. This is a strong justification for the Tax Reform,” he wrote.
The outspoken senator further dismissed claims that the bill would undermine any state’s economic autonomy or development, emphasizing that the reform aims to ensure equity and fairness by redistributing resources to benefit all states.
“All the sentiments raised against the Bill are not contained in the Bill,” he asserted, urging critics to “remove their political lenses and read the document thoroughly.”
Senator Sani, known for his advocacy for social justice and equity, stressed that the reform is a necessary step to end decades of systemic economic imbalances.
He urged lawmakers and stakeholders to support the bill, which he believes will promote national unity and inclusive development.
The Tax Reform Bill has sparked heated debates across political and economic spheres, with proponents advocating for equitable distribution of resources and opponents questioning its implications for revenue-generating states.
Senator Sani’s intervention underscores the critical need for a balanced approach that prioritizes fairness for all Nigerians.
Sani is a Former Senator, representing Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani is a civil rights activist, writer, and public commentator.
Renowned for his advocacy for democracy, human rights, and economic justice, he remains a vocal critic of inequality and systemic injustices in Nigeria’s governance structure.
