Stakeholders across all sectors in the economy have called for the harmonisation of all tax laws in Nigeria, to allow for a more innovative way of revenue drive to check duplication of taxes.
This was a part of the resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day dialogue on, Fiscal Governance and Economic Resilience in Nigeria, organised by the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn-(PERL), a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded governance programme in Nigeria.
The event aims to provide a platform for leaders to brainstorm on the many contending issues of fiscal governance and to recommend actionable policy options for policymakers and practitioners and initiate a public discourse around fiscal federalism and economic resilience among the citizenry to influence policy decisions within government at the national and sub-national levels.
Therefore, the stakeholders canvassed the centralisation of the entire database linked to the National Identity Numbers of citizens on taxation to be domiciled with the tax authority, to enable the government to have real time intelligence on the economic status of citizens and for planning purposes.
NAN reports that the stakeholders noted that the reinvention of Nigeria’s fiscal governance will require complementary reforms to strengthen formulation and execution of the budget. “The use of consultants in the tax regime is detrimental to national revenue drive, and so there is a need to institute a vibrant revenue generation drive by public institutions instead of using consultants. There is the need for synergy and coordination among government agencies in fiscal governance in the implementation of the major frameworks.”
They continued: “Innovative fiscal policies administration is required in tackling under-performing or performing revenue generation mechanisms of the agencies at both national and sub-national levels. This is key in effective fiscal governance in Nigeria.”
They added that a public financial management reform with greater impact on transparency and accountability is needed as well as integrated revenue architecture at the national and subnational levels working independently to enhance revenue drive in the robust fiscal governance of Nigeria.
The stakeholders also reiterated the role and absolute independence of legislative oversight, Public Account Committee (PAC), and the Auditor-General of the Federation, as sacrosanct in effective fiscal governance in Nigeria.
They stressed the need for urgent legislation to guarantee the independence of Auditor-General of the Federation to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability at all levels of governments.
Innovative fiscal policies administration is required in tackling under-performing or performing revenue generation mechanisms of the agencies at both national and sub-national levels.
They noted that capacity building among public officials in the preparation and implementation of fiscal governance strategic frameworks, especially at the sub-national level is important to re-energize the fiscal governance in Nigeria.
“The adoption of a bottom-up approach, instead of the current top-down method in the preparation of the budget/MTEF should be encouraged, as that will not only enhance citizen’s engagement but also serve as enlightenment on the expected role of government to the citizens. Services that are meant for the states should be removed from Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List for the purposes of a harmonious tax regime between the national and sub-national levels of government.”
They suggested the need for a strong fiscal governance system that requires strong fiscal rules and institutions, supported by measures that will strengthen the quality of spending in order to address corruption, transparency and accountability.
The stakeholders further said key sectors, such as agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), construction and transportation being the main drivers that facilitated Nigeria’s recovery from recessions, require more investments that will transform the economy.
They urged the institution of a mechanism for the generation of data and evidence to support fiscal policy reforms that will improve government revenue and expenditure systems; as well as enthrone measures to maintain micro-economic stability such as reducing inflation, implementation of foreign exchange management system.
This, they said, will improve the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs), thereby addressing the issue of funding government budgets; and putting public service delivery at the centre of public finance management.
