The chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that the committee has proposed to the federal government the removal of taxes on food, public transportation, house rents, and other basic necessities critical to the well-being of Nigerians.
Oyedele shared this information on Monday during an interview with Channels TV in Abuja.
The head of the committee stated that the proposal also includes the exemption of value-added tax (VAT) on these essential necessities.
Accordingly, Oyedele said the proposal will soon be signed by President Tinubu before being sent to the National Assembly to become part of the tax laws in the country.
“What we have taken into account is what are those basic necessities of life—food, accommodations, transportation, education and health. We’ve deliberately identified those items. And we’ve removed almost all the taxes applicable to them, including no VAT.
“We think that from the fiscal policy and tax perspective, we can make it more affordable for the Nigerian people to be able to afford those basic necessities. Share-passenger transportation is completely tax-free.
“However, if you hire a taxi, we assume that you’re not the poorest Nigerian so you have to pay the tax. Whereas if you get into a bus, that will be completely tax-free. That’s what we’ve done so far,” Oyedele said.
