By Fatima Saka
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reaffirmed his commitment on the Parliamentarians prioritizing the needs of Nigerians.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during an interactive session with National Assembly journalists who’s enjoined in his birthday celebration, Chinda emphasized the need for tax system reforms, noting that existing tax laws were outdated and required urgent revision.
Highlighting the government’s responsibility to address citizens’ concerns, Chinda stated that the passage of tax reform bills exemplifies the type of constructive opposition his party aims to provide in Parliament.
“I know that for Nigerians, if they don’t see parliamentarians shouting, attacking each other, or trading insults, they assume there is no opposition in Parliament,” Chinda said. “But we have been here long enough to realize that such an approach has not benefited us as a nation.”
Reflecting on past legislative battles, he noted that despite years of political confrontations, issues such as insecurity and economic challenges had worsened.
“We decided to shift our focus from seeking popularity to ensuring meaningful impact. Our goal is to serve Nigerians diligently and achieve tangible results,” he added.
One such result, he explained, is the revised tax bill. “When the tax bill was introduced, we saw that it was inadequate for Nigerians. We knew the tax system needed change, and our laws required urgent reform. The bill’s intent was good, but it contained flaws that needed fixing.”
Chinda detailed the extensive consultations that delayed the bill’s passage, emphasizing the input from the Governors’ Forum, state parliaments, religious groups, and other stakeholders.
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“We identified key areas of concern, raised them with the National Assembly leadership, and ensured they were addressed. That’s why the bill was temporarily stepped down. We took our time to refine it, incorporating all valid concerns before bringing it back to the floor for passage.”
While acknowledging that no law is perfect, he assured Nigerians that the revised tax bill is a significant improvement over its original draft.
“What we have today is far better than what was initially proposed. It serves the interests of the people, though it remains a work in progress. There’s always room for future amendments,” Chinda added.
