The senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Kalu has reacted to claims that President Bola Tinubu is trying to introduce Alphabeta, a consulting firm, to Nigeria with the Federal Government’s tax reform bills.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, debunked the claims on Monday during an interview with Arise Television.
His clarification comes amid speculations in some quarters that Tinubu plans to introduce Alphabeta as Nigeria’s tax consultant as he did in Lagos State.
However, Kalu dismissed the claims. He explained that Nigeria’s tax laws, like others, are obsolete and need to be revamped for the nation to progress.
This comes as the lawmaker backed the tax reform bills, which he described as progressive.
“One of my friends called me and said the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wants to put another Alphabeta in Nigeria like he did in Lagos State; that is not the issue.
“The issue is that we need to make amendments to our laws. I support that our laws, not only the tax bills, are obsolete.”
On his part, The Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee Taiwo Oyedele has urged Nigerians not to allow allow few grey areas in the proposed tax reform bills to cause obstruction to the passage of the bills. He also refuted the claim that president Tinubu had plans to engage Alphabeta.
He insisted that the government does not engage any consultant in its tax matters. He said this during a town hall meeting with Channels Television.
The bills gained momentum last week when they were passed for second reading at the Senate.
This comes after the Northern Governor’s Forum and National Economic Council calle