Buhari’s Planned VAT Increase Insensitive To Nigerian’s Suffering -Fayose

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Leading opposition voice against Buhari

By Nuel Suji – The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has faulted the Federal Government’s plan to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) from the current five percent to 1 percent, describing it as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who are suffering from the bad economic policies of the President Mohammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Fayose said the move would impose more hardship on Nigerians if carried out by government.

Leading opposition voice against Buhari
Leading opposition voice against Buhari

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on Thursday, in Lagos hinted of the administration’s plan to increase VAT, saying that the current five percent VAT rate in the country was very low, and went on to add that the Federal Government would increase the taxpayer base this year.

By Mr. Fayose, while reacting through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said any increment in VAT or any other tax being paid by Nigerians at this time will further make life unbearable for the people.

“For even contemplating the increment of VAT at this difficult time shows that the Buhari-led government does not care about the welfare of the citizens and only God will save the poor masses from the hands of this government,” he said.

Adding that, “Nigerians are suffering and the little that they have, federal government is planning to take back through VAT increment, this is wickedness!

“Under three months, electricity tariff was increased despite epileptic power supply, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers for money received into their accounts via electronic transfer, cash and cheques; petrol is being sold for as high as N400 per litre and now they are talking about increasing VAT to 10 per cent, this is the height of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.”

Fayose lamented the increase in the cost of living of Nigerians blaming what he called the bad economic policies of the Federal Government for the economic woes.

“Even recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that prices of food have hit a record high and inflation is worsening.

“How can government be considering 100 per cent increment in VAT when businesses are folding up, prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed, millions of Nigerians are losing their jobs and those who are still employed are no longer getting paid regularly?

Governor Fayose said rather than imposing more hardships on Nigerians, President Buhari should seek help from experts on how best to revive the country’s economy, adding that; “As at today, the Buhari-led government is yet to show that it has any clue to the revival of the economy.”

 

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