State governors are reportedly pressuring federal lawmakers to withdraw support for President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills, threatening to deny them return tickets in the 2027 elections. The proposed legislation, introduced in September, includes the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, aimed at revamping the economy.

Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman for the House of Representatives, revealed that governors are holding meetings to coerce lawmakers into abandoning the reforms. However, he reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th Assembly to prioritize economic progress, asserting that the legislators were elected by the people, not governors.

Despite recommendations from the National Economic Council to withdraw the bills, President Tinubu has insisted on allowing the legislative process to proceed, enabling necessary inputs and adjustments.

Lawmakers plan to engage with tax experts, including Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, to deliberate on the proposed bills. Agbese emphasized that the reforms would not be derailed by political threats.