Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the Federal Government’s planned tax reforms are designed to ease financial pressure on Nigerians rather than worsen economic hardship.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Vice President stated that the reforms aim to remove multiple taxes and levies that affect small businesses and low income earners across the country. According to him, the changes in the tax system are intended to reduce the financial strain faced by many Nigerians and support efforts to lower poverty levels.
Shettima spoke on behalf of President Bola Tinubu during an interfaith breaking of fast held at the State House for both Ramadan and Lent. The gathering was attended by members of the Federal Executive Council, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, presidential advisers, senior special assistants, and heads of government agencies and parastatals.
Addressing the officials, the Vice President urged them to speak openly about the government’s reform agenda and explain its objectives to Nigerians. He said the administration’s policies were created after careful planning and are meant to improve the living conditions of citizens.
According to Shettima, some critics have misrepresented the purpose of the tax reforms, claiming they will worsen the situation of the poor. He said such claims do not reflect the intention of the government.
“The same people who are shouting hoarse that the tax reform is meant to pulverise further and pauperise the poor are far from the truth, but we have to go out and tell the truth to the people,” he said.
He called on public officials to educate citizens about the reforms and provide clear explanations of government policies.
The Vice President also pointed to several economic changes introduced by the administration, which he said are already producing results. These include efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market, improvements in the nation’s external reserves, and the removal of the long standing fuel subsidy.
Shettima said the fuel subsidy system had for many years benefited only a limited group while placing a heavy financial burden on government resources. He noted that although the subsidy removal was not initially included in President Tinubu’s inaugural address in 2023, the administration decided to end the policy after assessing its impact on the economy.
He commended President Tinubu for taking what he described as difficult but necessary decisions that previous administrations avoided.
The Vice President also thanked members of the administration for their support and cooperation since the government began implementing its economic reforms.
He urged government officials to remain committed to informing Nigerians about the administration’s policies and to challenge what he described as misinformation circulated by opposition figures.
Shettima maintained that the government remains focused on policies intended to support economic recovery and improve the lives of Nigerians.
