By Joy Obanya
The Progressive Institute (TPI) has urged the Federal Government to expand Nigeria’s revenue profile to drive quality service and address fundamental issues of state crimes.
State crimes refer to illegal, corrupt or oppressive acts committed by the government, state officials or security forces acting under official authority such as embezzlement and human rights abuses.
The Director-General of TPI, Dr Lanre Adebayo, made the call at a news conference on “The Nationwide Summit to Demystify Nigeria’s Tax and Electoral Reforms for Grassroots Appreciation”.
The conference, which was organised by TPI in collaboration with Amalgamated Forum of Former Councillors in Nigeria, was held on Friday, at the institute’s office in Abuja.
TPI is the official think tank and intellectual resource centre of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The TPI D-G said that Tinubu’s reforms have driven the nation to a state of quality service, therefore, the need to expand the country’s revenue system.
“President Tinubu, through his Renewed Hope Agenda initiative, has charged Nigeria to a state of quality service, security and addressing fundamental issues of state crimes.
“Before 2023, most of the state governors were borrowing money to pay salaries and couldn’t pay their workers.
“We find workers going on strike. What was challenging also at the time was the issue of petroleum because of scarcity.
“That act made us realise that we are not being economically prudent in the management of the country,” Adebayo said.
On tax and electoral reforms, the D-G stated that there is need for Nigerians to grasp the basic mandate and details of the reforms act.
“Nigerians need to understand the basic reasoning behind the reforms. For the first time in over six decades the Nigeria Tax Policy was reviewed.
“Civil and public servants below certain levels of income are supposed to be removed from taxation, including private companies.
“In a way, this is a tax regime targeted at improving the welfare of individuals and also to expand its non-oil revenue profile.
“If you pay your quota of your tax money, work within the framework of your tax regime, you have a certain level of right from the government,” he said.
He said that around the country, Nigeria is a construction site that has laid foundation for infrastructure especially for grassroots levels.
“If you have been watching global financial organisations, the World Bank and EU, they all commended the reforms this administration has introduced especially in removing subsidy.
“In the last subsidy, we had more resources for governance. It was the intention to raise revenue profile.
“Most state governors got more than 500 per cent of what they were getting before. There are activities at the state and federal level.
“There are more resources more than ever before to invest in building infrastructure. There is no state governor that is not constructing infrastructures in the state.
“So, if you go round the country today, Nigeria is a construction site everywhere. The idea of infrastructure is to enable the poor farmers market their products,” he said.
Concerning the upcoming nationwide summit which would commence in the South-South region, Adebayo said the aim is to educate the average Nigerian voter to understand his/her rights and processes during the electoral process.
The summit is to hold on the 13th and 14th of August, 2026, at the Nelson Mandela Banquet Hall, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“The initiative is fundamentally a policy education and civic engagement programme aimed at making complex national reforms understandable.
“Also making it accessible and relevant to every Nigerian, irrespective of educational or social background.
“We want the average Nigerian voter to understand the basic process, its rights and obligations during the electoral process.
“They are the ones with the power to determine the next government. One of the unique strengths of this initiative is the strategic involvement of former councillors drawn from the six South-South states.
“The summit will create opportunity for the direct interaction between citizens and policy experts that are responsible for implementing tax reforms.
“Their participation is intended to strengthen policy communication and facilitate wider grassroots appreciation of the reforms,” he said.
He also called on government at all levels to support the initiative, adding that their partnership will contribute to ensuring that accurate information reaches the grassroots, helping Nigeria’s reform agenda to grow.
Speaking on the role of opposition in governance, Nkereuwem James, National Focal Person, Amalgamated Forum of Former Councillors, said that policy capacity opposition in Nigeria is low.
According to him, the primary role of opposition is to constructively contribute to governance and not to demonise policies.
“The sole role of an opposition, especially after election, is to use the knowledge and capacity to contribute to governance through which policies can benefit the people,” James said.
He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to join hands in building Nigeria constructively for the growth and betterment of its people.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
JOYO/MUK
Edited by Magdalene Ukuedojor