Tax defaulting politicians to be barred from contesting

In an Executive bill scheduled to be passed in the national assembly, politicians found guilty of tax evasion will be barred from seeking elective offices.

Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Taiwo Oyedele who made the announcement while speaking at the 2024 strategic retreat for staff of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), said an amendment to the existing tax law will be sent to the National Assembly to ensure tax compliance and prevent default by the political class.

He also shared the federal government’s plan of setting up a national tax amnesty programme. Oyedele said; 

“We’re moving beyond a tax clearance certificate, which can be easily obtained. Effective compliance involves a thorough examination of tax declarations, filings, and payments to determine if a candidate is genuinely fulfilling his tax responsibilities as outlined in the constitution.

“This issue arose during the last election. The argument was that the constitution doesn’t explicitly list tax compliance as a qualification criterion. We’re rectifying this oversight to ensure financial responsibility among those seeking public office.”