• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home Fact-Check ‎Fact-Check: Did Tinubu, Oyedele Oppose Buhari Administration’s Plan to Increase VAT?
  • Fact-Check

‎Fact-Check: Did Tinubu, Oyedele Oppose Buhari Administration’s Plan to Increase VAT?

By
Zekeri Idakwo Laruba
-
December 5, 2024
Tinubu, Oyedele
Tinubu, Oyedele

‎Fact-Check: Did Tinubu, Oyedele Oppose Buhari Administration’s Plan to Increase VAT?

Recent screenshots circulating on social media allege that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Taiwo Oyedele, the current Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, previously opposed the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s plan to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT). 

One of the images prominently displays the caption: “Tinubu opposes the Buhari administration’s plan to increase VAT.” 

The debate over President Tinubu’s stance on tax reform has reemerged amid discussions surrounding the Tax Reform Bill 2024. This bill, which has progressed to its second reading in the National Assembly, has sparked significant criticism and allegations of hypocrisy directed at the president.

The Tax Reform Bill 2024, introduced by the executive branch, seeks to create a unified fiscal framework governing taxation in Nigeria. If passed by the legislative bodies, the bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, and proposes an increase in VAT from 7.5% to 15% by 2030.

Verification:

To investigate the claims attributed to President Tinubu, the PRNigeria fact-checking team conducted extensive research. This included reverse image searches and keyword searches, revealing that the allegations gained traction alongside the Federal Government’s advocacy for tax reform, igniting intense debate over fiscal policies.

Further investigation revealed that then-APC national leader Tinubu also opposed the VAT increase. During the 11th colloquium. for his 67th birthday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on March 28, 2019, Tinubu was quoted as saying, “An increase in VAT will reduce the purchasing power of Nigerian consumers and is capable of increasing hardship in the country.” He urged former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the then Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) and his team to reconsider any plans for a VAT increase.

Read Also:

  • Entries Open for 7th Campus Journalism Awards 2025
  • Kano Secures School Feeding, Investment Prospects at UNGA80
  • Nigeria and the Genocide Lie That Refuses to Die By Kabir Abdulsalam

Mainstream media outlets at the time widely reported on Tinubu’s opposition to the VAT increase, using various headlines, including “Tinubu Kicks Against Proposed Increase in VAT” 

That discourse in 2019 was further inflamed by a series of tweets from Taiwo Oyedele, which also recently resurfaced online. Oyedele’s tweets expressed opposition to a proposed VAT increase by the then Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, who sought to raise VAT from 5% to between 7.25% and 8.75%. Oyodelr described the then proposal as poorly timed and inconsistent with Nigeria’s economic circumstances at the time. Additionally, Oyedele mentioned that “any increase in VAT rate without a registration threshold and zero-rating of basic consumption will increase the burden on the poor and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),” contradicting the principles outlined in the 2017 National Tax Policy.

Meanwhile, Oyedele as Chairman of Tax Reform panel was quoted in the media as  justifying a proposed law to increase VAT from 7.5% to 10% but he  was later quoted to deny the move stating that the Federal Government of Nigeria has no plans to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate. 

Conclusion:

PRNigeria‘s findings confirm that both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Tax Reform Chairman Taiwo Oyedele did indeed oppose the VAT increase proposed under the Buhari administration in 2019.

Therefore, PRNigeria concludes that the assertion that President Tinubu and Chairman Oyedele previously opposed the plan to increase VAT during President Buhari’s administration is TRUE!

By PRNigeria

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
  • Tax Reform Bill 2024
  • Tax Reform Chairman Taiwo Oyedele
  • Value Added Tax (VAT)
Previous articleCOAS urges media practitioners on responsible, balanced reporting
Next articleMinister, Naval Chief Unveil NOWA Magazine to Amplify Personnel Wives’ Stories
Zekeri Idakwo Laruba
Zekeri Idakwo Laruba

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Nigeria and the Genocide Lie That Refuses to Die By Kabir Abdulsalam

FULL TEXT INDEPENDENCE SPEECH: Tinubu Hails Nigeria’s Progress at 65 Tinubu, Lists Achievements, Promises Brighter Future

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Nigeria @ 65: Tinubu Hails Armed Forces, Claims Victory Over Boko Haram, IPOB, Bandits

Bayo Onanuga: Between Bolekaja Publicity and Public Relations

Nigeria at 65: Tinubu Lists 12 Economic Gains of His Reforms

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

Gov Yusuf Launches N800m Youth Empowerment Scheme in Kano

A Neutralized Terrorists

Troops Foil ISWAP Attack, Neutralize 2 Terrorists, Recover Weapons in Monguno

Pantami’s Reinvention and the Road to 2027 By Kabir Akintayo

the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Head of Service, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack and other Top Government officiial

Nigeria @65: FG Highlights Reforms, Calls for Unity, Citizens’ Support

Nigerian Army

Army HQs Redeploys GOC 2 Division to Kwara to Boost Security

NAF Airstrike fighter jets

NAF Scrambles Fighter Jets After Deadly Terror Attack on Vigilantes in Kwara State

The bodies of the people slain in the attack

Terrorists Attack Zamfara Mosque, Kill Five and Abduct Muslim Worshippers During Morning Prayers

Recent Posts

  • Entries Open for 7th Campus Journalism Awards 2025
  • Kano Secures School Feeding, Investment Prospects at UNGA80
  • Nigeria and the Genocide Lie That Refuses to Die By Kabir Abdulsalam
  • FULL TEXT INDEPENDENCE SPEECH: Tinubu Hails Nigeria’s Progress at 65 Tinubu, Lists Achievements, Promises Brighter Future
  • FG Brokers Truce in Dangote–PENGASSAN Dispute
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Entries Open for 7th Campus Journalism Awards 2025Kano Secures School Feeding, Investment Prospects at UNGA80Nigeria and the Genocide Lie That Refuses to Die By Kabir AbdulsalamFULL TEXT INDEPENDENCE SPEECH: Tinubu Hails Nigeria’s Progress at 65 Tinubu, Lists Achievements, Promises Brighter FutureFG Brokers Truce in Dangote–PENGASSAN DisputeNigeria @ 65: Tinubu Hails Armed Forces, Claims Victory Over Boko Haram, IPOB, BanditsBayo Onanuga: Between Bolekaja Publicity and Public RelationsNigeria at 65: Tinubu Lists 12 Economic Gains of His ReformsCustoms Ends 2025 PR Workshop in Kano, Award PR Officers for Outstanding PerformanceGov Yusuf Launches N800m Youth Empowerment Scheme in KanoICPC Arraigns Two Over N4.8m Job Scam, Forgery of CBN, FIRS LettersDSS Arraigns Sowore Over Anti-Tinubu Social Media PostTroops Foil ISWAP Attack, Neutralize 2 Terrorists, Recover Weapons in MongunoSenator Ali Ndume: Bold, Blunt and Unapologetic By Ozumi AbdulPolice Nab Four Armed Robbery, Kidnap Suspects in Anambra
X whatsapp