The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has explained that the National Assembly approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reform to expand national revenue, strengthen the economy and improve funding for critical sectors.
Senator Jibrin made the clarification while responding to questions from students during a distinguished personality lecture organised by the Department of Political Science at the University of Ilorin.
A student had asked how the tax policy would benefit young Nigerians and what lawmakers were doing to reduce inequality.
Responding, Senator Jibrin, who joined virtually because of technical issues with his flight, said the new tax policy was designed to make the country look inward rather than relying on petroleum alone.
He noted that several untapped sectors would now contribute more effectively to national earnings.
He said the reform would create additional revenue to fund education, healthcare, road construction and industrial development.
He stressed that the economic activities expected from these investments would generate more jobs for young Nigerians.
According to him, “the reform will translate into significant economic growth and enhance national prosperity once fully implemented”.
“The new tax policy is crafted in a way to allow the country to have more revenue and ensure the country looks inward rather than depending on petroleum alone.
“We have a lot of potential and things that will come into the tax that will improve the revenue for our country. Once the tax laws begin to get implemented, there will be more money to fund education, healthcare, build more roads and build more companies that will allow jobs to be created.
“This will create more activities for the economy and by the time you leave school, you will have jobs”, he said.
On the claim of Christian genocide, the Deputy Senate President said the crisis in Nigeria is a result of criminality and not targeted persecution, adding that more Muslims have been killed by Boko Haram and other criminal groups.
He insisted that the government did not act based on Trump’s comments, saying all arms of government have been working together on security long before the statement.
He added that insecurity has a global dimension and is not unique to Nigeria, citing developments in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Benin Republic and even the United States.
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Senator Jibrin emphasised that the parliament will continue to strengthen democracy through effective oversight, checks and balances and purposeful representation.
He said the legislature must remain strong, independent and accountable in order to sustain public trust and ensure good governance.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), urged students to apply the lessons from the lecture to contribute to national development.
He reaffirmed the university’s readiness to support efforts that promote nation building.
The Acting Head of the Department of Political Science, Dr Abdulkareem Edun, said the institution remains committed to training students who can contribute meaningfully to the country’s political development.
He thanked the Deputy Senate President for granting the request for the establishment of a student legislative chamber, installation of solar power and the endowment of a scholarship in his honour.
A representative of the Kano and Hausa community at the university, Mallam Sani Ali, described Senator Jibrin as a generous leader whose patience and character have distinguished him.
The President of the National Association of Political Science Students, Hellen Agbudeloye, thanked the Deputy Senate President for honouring the lecture and attending to the concerns of students despite his tight schedule.
