The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has charged members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy, Tax Reforms to develop a robust roadmap that will transform the economy of the country.
The Vice President gave the charge when he received in audience on Monday, members of the Committee led by the Chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He reminded the committee that “the task before it is enormous and urged them to do their utmost to address some of the fundamental issues underlying the nation’s fiscal and tax policies.
“I believe you will come up with a roadmap to salvage our nation, we are in a big mess, but I have confidence in your team. This is a great nation chained by poor governance, chained by many challenges and my principal is a man of courage and conviction, he is a progressive man in the Nigerian political space,” the VP stated.
On the importance of fiscal policy and tax reforms, the Vice President noted that it is a potent tool for resource mobilization and as such, he charged the Committee to make recommendations that are quick deliverables in view of the nation’s current economic realities.
While assuring them of the National Economic Council’s cooperation, he said “our focus should largely dwell on domestic resource mobilization especially with trends in the world today, even the biggest economies in the world are faced with this reality.”
He praised the composition of the Committee stating that “I think the composition of this Committee bears testimony to the seriousness that the President attaches to your mandate.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zaccheus Adedeji, stated that the Presidential Committee would be interested in working with the National Economic Council (NEC) which is chaired by the Vice President “to ensure effective collaboration with the sub-national governments who are critical stakeholder group in the task before the Committee.
Earlier, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed that members of the Committee were “excited for this opportunity to help our country to redefine, redesign a new fiscal policy framework that is fit for our nation to thrive and deliver the Nigeria we want in order for our people to flourish in their endeavours.”
He assured that the Committee would engage with Nigerians both at home and abroad as well as with all segments of the society. Also, he expressed the readiness of the Committee to engage with sub-national governments through NEC in achieving the mandate of the committee.
In delegation of the Presidential Committee were Kyari Bukar, Tayo Aduloju, Ismaila Zakari, Prof Abiola Sanni, Dr Chinyere Almona, Aubakar Suleiman, Bamate Ogara-Lawson, Taminu Yakubu and Muhammad Nami.
