TETFund, NASENI, NITDA Could Be Scrapped If Tax Reform Bills Pass — Zulum

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has raised concerns that the passage of four key Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly could lead to the dissolution of major federal agencies, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics on Sunday night, Zulum expressed his opposition to certain provisions in the proposed legislation, particularly the four Tax Reform Bills — the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and the Nigeria Tax Bill. He stated that if these bills were passed, they would centralize tax collection under a newly empowered agency, possibly the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which would assume exclusive control over tax administration across the country.

The governor indicated that the Bills, which have passed their second reading in the Senate, could have adverse effects on several states. He argued that the reforms would mainly benefit only Lagos and Rivers states, leaving 34 other states at a disadvantage. Zulum called for further dialogue and consultation to ensure that the interests of all states were considered and that they would not be “short-changed” by the proposed laws.

Additionally, Zulum questioned the readiness of the FIRS to take on such a significant role and whether it had the necessary structures in place to manage tax collection nationwide. He stated that the reforms should be accompanied by a thorough review and a clear presentation of the facts, including the expected impact on different states, before they are finalized.

The four Tax Reform Bills were forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in October 2024. The Senate recently moved the bills to the second reading stage, while the House of Representatives is scheduled to begin its deliberations on the legislation next week. Zulum’s comments reflect ongoing concerns among some governors, particularly in the northern region, about the potential implications of these reforms.