Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal yesterday criticised the Federal Government policies of granting indiscriminate waivers to companies offering diverse services, describing it as inimical to the growth of the nation’s economy.
According to the speaker, who said this while receiving a delegation from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) led by its Chairman, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, also noted that the policy is encouraging big and foreign business organisations to make huge profits while local industries are operating under unfavourable competitive environment as a result of the waivers.
The speaker lamented that the country’s economy has been at the receiving end with youth unemployment and collapsing manufacturing sector being commonplace.
He said, “Recently I heard that a lot of waivers are being granted some companies in this country.
I feel that we need to review our waiver granting policy as a government.
This is because in the past we have budget that have wide and deep deficits, how do you bridge this gap when you are busy granting waivers on goods and services that ordinarily we should not?”
The lawmaker said the time is right for the government to assist the economy by introducing a comprehensive reappraisal of the waiver regime and import policy.
“I am calling on the Executive arm of government to review our waiver policy and indeed our importation policy as a government. We allow all manners of goods to be imported into this country and I believe we have to take a critical look at that.
Meanwhile Tambuwal has urged the government of the United Kingdom (UK) to support the government in tackling terrorist activities in the country.
Tambuwal made this plea yesterday in Abuja while receiving the British Minister of Immigration, Damian Green who led a business team including the British High Commissioner, Andrew Lloyd on a courtesy visit to the National Assembly.
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