Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the Federal Government’s new tax reforms will remove the burden of multiple taxes and charges on small businesses and low-income earners, helping to reduce poverty across the country.
Shettima made this known while speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at an interfaith breaking of fast for Ramadan and Lent held at the State House in Abuja.
According to the Vice President, the design and implementation of the tax reforms were carefully planned to improve the lives of Nigerians, contrary to claims by critics that the policies are meant to worsen hardship.
He stressed that the reforms are intended to create a fairer tax system that supports businesses and protects vulnerable citizens.
“The same people who are shouting hoarse that the tax reform is meant to pauperise the poor are far from the truth, but we have to go out and tell the truth to the people,” Shettima said.
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“We have to educate them. We have to mount the pulpits and take our government to the Nigerian people and tell them the truth.”
Shettima also highlighted some of the economic gains recorded under the current administration’s reforms. According to him, Nigeria has seen improvements in its foreign exchange reserves, while the exchange rate system has been streamlined.
He added that the removal of fuel subsidy which had existed for many years ended a system that primarily benefited a few individuals rather than the general population.
The Vice President noted that President Tinubu deserves commendation for taking bold decisions to address long-standing economic challenges that previous administrations avoided tackling.
He maintained that the government remains committed to introducing policies that will ease the burden on Nigerians and support economic growth.