President Bola Tinubu has hinted that the relationship between his government and National Assembly members is not always rosy, noting that there were times when the executive and legislative prerogatives collided.

Nigeria’s VAT collection inefficient, lowest in Africa – Speaker

President Bola Tinubu has hinted that the relationship between his government and National Assembly members is not always rosy, noting that there were times when the executive and legislative prerogatives collided.

The President told the lawmakers that only constructive collaboration between the National Assembly and the Executive would justify the collective mandate and trust Nigerians reposed in them.

The President, however, appealed that national interest should be placed above personal interests.

Tinubu stated this in Abuja, yesterday while declaring open a two-day retreat for members of the House of Representatives with the theme “Navigating Change: Legislative Strategies for Economic Transformation.’

The legislative retreat on economic transformation and development was organised by the House in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung Foundation (KAS).

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President stated: This joint effort is the minimum the people, who voted for us expect from us. However, the very essence of checks and balances means there will be times when the executive and legislative prerogatives inevitably collide.

“Above all else, the national interest must guide our decisions in those moments. We share a common responsibility in shaping the future of our nation, and it is through our collaboration that we can effectively fulfil this duty.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, decried Nigeria’s efficiency in collecting Value Added Tax (VAT), describing it as the lowest among its African peers.

While stating that Nigeria’s tax revenue struggles are primarily due to narrow bases for indirect taxes, low compliance rates among taxpayers, substantial tax exemptions, and generally low tax rates, the Speaker noted that the situation was compounded by “a lack of enthusiasm and morale for tax compliance, contributing to the nation’s underwhelming fiscal performance.”

Abbas expressed the readiness of the 10th House to aid the economic policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

The Speaker expressed his pleasure that the legislative retreat was taking place “at a point in our nation’s economic landscape when the current administration is diligently implementing policies and initiatives to steer our economy towards recovery, growth, and sustainable development.”