Tax Reform Bill: Sen. Hanga Speaks on Some Contentions From Northerners.

The Deputy Minority Whip of the 10th Senate and Senator representing Kano Central, Sen. Rufai Hanga (NNPP) in a media chat with the National Assembly New Media on Friday in his Abuja National Assembly Office shades light on the Tax Reform Bill

Hanga argued that while the tax bill when passed and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will increase state revenue especially for state where consumption rate is high, said one aspect of the Bill mostly contended and not accepted by the Northeners especially Muslim is the clause that tends to tax on inheritance.

” Islam forbid that inheritance is taxed” as practicing Muslim, tax on inheritance is forbidden and is against Islamic believe.

However, the Tax reform bill which seek to increase vat will increase the revenue of states especially state with higher consumption rate of the service and goods like Kano, Lagos, Rivers and others.

Though the Tax Reform Bill has generated controversy in Nigeria among religious bodies, civil organization, manufacturer, the Nigeria consumer ,stakeholders, executive and even the legislature especially from the north, but proponent of the Bill argued that the bill will harmonize Nigeria Treasury system.

Concerned that the country do not collect more than 20% of it tax because of avoider and evaders whom are mostly among the wealthy and corporate entity. Sen Hanga expresses hope that the new Tax Reform Bill will correct and make the Nigerian economy to spring higher than before, noting the possibility of some states in the North and even the oil producing state to be affected in one way or the other by the Bill due to low consumption rate in such state.

Speaking on the rift between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti, Senator Hanga gave his view, describes the Senate as one big family, emphasizing the need for reconciliation and amicable resolution

“The Senate is a family. As a family, our duty is to reconcile differences. If the matter were not in court, I would have personally intervened because I know both of them very well.

Highlighting his ties with the both lawmakers, he said
“Natasha is a daughter and I call her my daughter because of my long standing relationship with her father.

“Natasha’s father and I served together in the House of Representatives. He was a member of my committee on water resources when I was Chairman. We were close, and I still consider her my daughter,”

“The Senate President is a friend and a leader. Though, all senators are equal but with Akpabio holding a leadership role by virtue of the Senate’s structure, he is our leader.

Recalling a personal encounter, Hanga shared an experience that underscored the close ties among the dual.

“During one of our private travels, the Senate President asked me to accompany him to visit a friend whose wife had just given birth, I agreed, and when we got there, I realized it was Sen. Natasha who had given birth to a new baby. We congratulated her, had dinner together, and left. That’s how close we all are,” he recounted.

This recount further attested to the idea of oneness and bounding that existed amongst senators irrespective of occasional political disagreements.

Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, the senator that comes to the 10th Senate with the highest number of votes say is constituency project and reach out to the people transcends political patronage for votes.

Hanga’s philanthropist gesture transcends political patronage for votes into a long history humanitarian services anchored of the principle of service for the welfare of others as family culture long even before he became a senator.

Taking care of the needy and the people around him is a family virtue he inherited tlfrom his family lineage, a big family in Kano which has metamorphosised into a foundation called Hanga foundation.

” I used this foundation to execute most of welfare reach out projects with my personal fund, I don’t need to wait for constituency projects money before attending to the people’s needs.

As I speak to you, we have numerous programs for the people of Kano, you can see the list, this time the empowerment will be more massive than the previous ones, this third phase of our empowerment.