The federal government has no intention of withdrawing the controversial tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, has said.

Speaking at a televised town hall meeting titled “Tax Reform Bills: Charting the Way Forward”, Oyedele addressed growing concerns from various stakeholders, including northern politicians, who have called for the withdrawal of the bills for further consultation.

Oyedele refuted claims that the bills would permit tax consultants to take over the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) responsibilities. “Tax collection will remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of FIRS,” he clarified. He also rejected accusations that state governors were excluded from the consultation process, noting that engagement with governors and other stakeholders had been extensive but acknowledged that more consultations would be beneficial.

“We’ve had multiple sessions with state finance commissioners, internal revenue heads, and governors’ representatives. While some governors couldn’t participate due to time constraints, others actively engaged with us and even formed committees to work through the proposals,” Oyedele said.