Vice-President Kashim Shettima says critics of the federal government’s tax reforms are “far from the truth”.
Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at an interfaith breaking of fast for Ramadan and Lent held at the State House.
He represented President Bola Tinubu at the event.
The vice-president said the government designed the tax reforms to eliminate multiple levies on small businesses and low-income earners.
According to him, the reforms will ease financial pressure on Nigerians and help reduce poverty.
Attendees at the event included members of the federal executive council, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), special advisers, senior special assistants, and heads of agencies and parastatals.
Shettima Dismisses Criticism of Tax Reforms
Shettima rejected claims that the tax reforms would worsen the economic situation of Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
However, he urged government officials to actively communicate the administration’s policies to Nigerians.
“We have to go out and tell the truth to the people,” he said.
“We have to educate, mount the pulpits and take our government to the Nigerian people and tell them the truth.”
Furthermore, Shettima asked officials to remain strong advocates of the administration’s reform agenda.
He said the government understands the economic difficulties facing Nigerians and has begun rolling out policies to address them.
Shettima Highlights Gains of Economic Reforms
Meanwhile, the vice-president pointed to some gains from the administration’s economic reforms.
He said the reforms have increased Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves and streamlined the country’s exchange rate system.
He also defended the removal of the fuel subsidy.
According to him, the subsidy regime had benefited only a few individuals while draining national resources.
Shettima commended Tinubu for confronting economic challenges that previous administrations avoided.
He noted that although the president did not mention subsidy removal in his inaugural speech in 2023, he later announced the policy after recognising the damage it caused to the economy.
“Three years down the road, the economy has bounced back,” he said.
Call to Counter Misinformation
Finally, Shettima thanked government officials for their support and cooperation.
“On behalf of the president, I want to thank you all for comradeship, support and partnership,” he said.
He also urged officials to counter misinformation about government policies and explain the administration’s achievements to Nigerians.
