A former Member of the Osun State House of Assembly and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called for urgent and wider sensitization of the Nigerian public on the new tax regulations in force in the country, pointing out that there is already too much misinterpretation of the law going on.
Oyintiloye, who expressed concern that many Nigerians remain unaware of the new tax reform laws and often misinterpret them, lamented that a lack of understanding has led to misconceptions, misrepresentation and suspicion of the government’s intentions.
Against this background, the former member of Osun House of Assembly has called for extensive and sustained enlightenment initiatives regarding the new law, saying “widespread misinformation about the tax law has left many Nigerians, including the educated, confused about what, when, and how their earnings will be taxed.”
He noted that the reported discrepancies between the version of the bill passed by the National Assembly and the published versions in the official gazette, have not helped matters for the government, pointing out that they have further fueled the confusion surrounding the tax laws instead.
While acknowledging the apparent government’s positive intentions towards low earners in the country, Oyintiloye warned that misinformation surrounding the implementation of the tax law is overshadowing its true objectives.
“Many Nigerians are still ignorant of the new tax law. Social media is filled with varying explanations, leading to widespread confusion,” he added.
“The misinformation is spreading faster than the true intentions of the law and its benefits. Up until now, many Nigerians, both literate and illiterate, do not know what to believe about the tax law.”
Oyintiloye attributed the confusion to the slow pace of public sensitization and minimal engagement before the implementation date of the new tax law, urging relevant government agencies responsible for raising public awareness about government policies to take action.
“I implore the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Federal Ministry of Information, and other pertinent agencies to enhance their public awareness campaigns, especially regarding the tax reform law. This is crucial to help people understand the government’s good intentions, particularly towards low earners, and to curb the spread of misinformation,” he said.
The former lawmaker expressed joy that various economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu have begun to yield positive results, stressing that these gains should be effectively communicated to the public by the relevant agencies.
