A proposed Executive bill in the national assembly would prohibit politicians convicted of tax evasion from running for electoral office.
Speaking at the Joint Tax Board (JTB) staff’s 2024 strategic retreat, Taiwo Oyedele, the chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, announced that a change to the current tax code will be submitted to the National Assembly in order to guarantee tax compliance and avoid political class default.
He also discussed the federal government’s intention to launch a nationwide tax amnesty initiative. Oyedele stated:
“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.”
