ASUU’s criticism adds to the growing voices challenging the proposed tax bill, which is expected to undergo further scrutiny in the National Assembly in the coming weeks.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed strong opposition to the proposed increment in Value Added Tax (VAT) contained in the controversial tax bill currently under consideration at the National Assembly.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, criticized the federal government and the National Assembly for failing to engage critical stakeholders, including researchers in tertiary institutions, before drafting the bill.
The tax bill has been a source of heated debate since its introduction, with mixed reactions from various quarters. According to Prof. Osodeke, increasing VAT would worsen the financial burden on Nigerians, many of whom are already grappling with the economic challenges stemming from fuel subsidy removal and the naira’s depreciation.
“I think what we’re supposed to look at in this bill is how it is going to affect ordinary Nigerians. I’ve heard people from various regions saying, ‘We support this, we disagree,’ but they have not bothered to examine the bill carefully,” Osodeke said.
He highlighted VAT as a key concern, noting that any increase would primarily affect consumers. “VAT is a tax on consumers. If you increase VAT today, it’s not the producers who will bear the cost—it will be passed on to consumers through higher prices,” he explained.
ASUU’s criticism adds to the growing voices challenging the proposed tax reform bills, which is expected to undergo further scrutiny in the National Assembly in the coming weeks.
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