A former lawmaker who represented Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has decried widespread misinformation surrounding the new tax laws, calling for urgent action to reverse the trend.
Oyintiloye made the call in a statement obtained by PUNCH Online in Osogbo on Sunday.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain observed that misinformation had diverted public attention from what he described as the good intentions of the Federal Government in introducing the laws.
He urged the National Orientation Agency and other relevant government bodies to intensify sensitisation efforts on the benefits and objectives of the tax reforms.
“The misinformation about the tax law is spreading faster than the true intentions of the law and its benefits. Till this moment, many Nigerians, both literate and illiterate, do not actually know what to believe about the tax law,” he said.
Oyintiloye attributed the confusion surrounding the new tax laws to what he described as the slow pace of sensitisation and limited public engagement before the implementation date.
He called on agencies responsible for public awareness of government policies to rise to the occasion and do the needful.
He said, “Lack of proper understanding of the new tax laws has led to misconceptions, misrepresentation and suspicion of the government’s intentions. There is a need for massive and sustained enlightenment on the new law.
“I want to implore the National Orientation Agency, the Federal Ministry of Information and other relevant government agencies to step up their public awareness campaigns, especially on the tax reform law.
“This is important to enable Nigerians to better understand the good intentions of the government, particularly towards low-income earners, and to curb the spread of misinformation. Many people still do not know what the law entails or how it will apply to them.”
The APC chieftain also said various economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu had started yielding positive results, stressing that the gains of these reforms should be properly packaged and communicated to Nigerians by the relevant agencies.
He noted that despite allegations of doctoring the bill signed into law and rumours of heavy taxes awaiting Nigerians, the Federal Government has continued with the implementation of the law amid reservations expressed in some quarters.
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