A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Yakubu Dogara, has praised President Bola Tinubu for the controversial tax reforms bill, saying it’s only a brave leader like him that can save the country.
He also endorsed the President’s tax reforms initiative, describing it as the right thing to do for the growth of the country.
Dogara spoke at the 14th convocation and 17th Founders Anniversary of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.
“With what President Bola Tinubu has done, whether it’s the freeing of local government areas from the choke-hold of economic stagnation the states had hitherto subjected them to or the groundbreaking bold tax reforms proposals he had placed before the National Assembly, I see a glimmer of hope that we may be dealing with a leader who is prepared to lead with unbridled courage even at personal cost.
“It gladdens my heart that we are now dealing with a leader who is not avoiding stubborn tasks and very much unwilling to put off difficult conversations.
“With him, courage has become a habit and that habit has the power to transform our leadership as the miracles we are desperately yearning for may well lie in the tasks and difficult conversations we are avoiding.
“I support president’s tax reforms not because they are perfect, but because it is the right thing to do.
“However, I must concede the fact that those opposed to it have the right to do so.
“But I do not share their jaundiced nay tenuous and puerile position that because they disagree with some aspects of the reforms, then the reforms must be withdrawn or killed,
“Leaders who are dedicated to reforms and progress don’t make such poor judgement calls, at all,” he said.
Dogara said that those that are opposed to the reforms should clearly spell out what they are disagreeing with and make better proposition than that of the president for Nigerians to compare and contrast in order to make informed choices.
Orinoye said that 303 students had Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and 243 graduated with Second Class Honours ( Lower Division) while 35 had Third Class Honours.
The vice chancellor said that 46 postgraduate students in 17 different academic programmes would receive their certificate awards.
The vice chancellor said that no fewer than 319 students had benefitted from its 12-tuition-free academic programmes.
She stated that the gesture was in pursuance of the institution’s philosophy of promoting access to higher education to young people who might be denied the opportunity for lack of huge resources.
The vice chancellor said that the institution’s Governing Council had also approved the granting of 65 per cent to 80 per cent tuition scholarship for UTME and Direct Entry candidates in 20 other academic programmes.
Three Nigerian personalities: Gov. Umar Bago of Niger State, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Orangun of Oke Ila, Osun State and Dr Fidelis Ayebae, were given doctoral honorary award for their outstanding contributions to the Nigerian society.
