On Thursday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) set up a committee of experts to study the proposed tax reform bills forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.

New Telegraph recalls that President Tinubu submitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration, quick passage and implementation.

The bills are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 -SB.583; The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) BILL, 2024- SB.584; The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024-SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 – SB.586.

The committee is to come up with appropriate recommendations to be forwarded to appropriate organs of the government.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba.

The Forum said the current debates on the proposed tax reforms by the National Economic Council and other critical stakeholders actually suggested that not enough consultations went into the preparations of the bills.

“ACF accepts that periodic public policy reforms are in line with the political and public administrative processes, in which regards reforms are indeed necessary and desirable.

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“Nothing in the life of any community is static and policies must try to address emerging challenges, take advantage of new opportunities, etc,” the statement read.

The Forum further explained that the apparent impatience by supporters of the bills, especially the Federal Government, to have them speedily processed through the Senate, creates and sustains impressions of specific but unstated underlying interests.

The ACF applauded the Senate for electing wider consultations with relevant stakeholders to address areas of concern in the bills.

It urged all citizens and every interest group to cooperate with the relevant Senate Committee tasked with the assignment.

The Forum also called for restraint, decorum and mutual respect in any discussions of provisions in the proposed bills.

“Debates have continued to rage on the pros and cons of the proposed bills, with positions being argued vehemently and stridently with passion.

“However, it is concerning that the emerging debates have become acrimonious, pitting sections of the country against each other.

“It is highly regretful that opinions have tended to involve unsavoury and often abusive words meant to denigrate, blackmail or intimidate anyone perceived, rightly or wrongly, as standing in support or opposing the bills or their specific aspects therefrom as are now under consideration in the Senate.

“Needless to remind all, the proposed bills’ impact will have ramifications on every citizen and every part of the country.

“ACF notes that debates over bills are part and parcels of the public policy process, especially in democratic settings. Reforms meant to correct policy shortcomings or inadequacies must necessarily address all areas of concern that citizens may wish to raise,” the statement added.

However, on November 28, the tax reform bills were passed for a second reading in the Senate.