The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that with more revenue expected to flow into the coffers of all tiers of government from next January, when the federal government’s tax reforms take effect, citizens should be able to hold political office holders more accountable regarding the discharge of their constitutional duties.
Bamidele, who delivered the 37th convocation lecture at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, on Tuesday, noted that despite initial doubts by some Nigerians about the necessity of the Tax Reforms Bills presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers supported the bills because of the numerous advantages they offer.
Bamidele spoke on “Entrepreneurship Development in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for Job Creation.”
“Some people erroneously label the National Assembly a rubber stamp because they are not seeing the type of rancour that existed some years ago. But the situation in the country is not one where we should work at cross purposes. All hands must be on deck to move the country forward economically.
“When the Tax Reforms Bills were presented to the National Assembly, we called in members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, whose chairman is incidentally the chairman of today’s occasion. They educated us and went on to educate citizens across all zones. We are confident that the reforms are necessary, and they will work and bring more revenue to the government. When that begins next January, as the laws take effect, people will be able to make greater demands on their political office holders as more revenue flows into government coffers at all levels,” he stated.
On the establishment of more universities, Bamidele opined that it would give education a new lease of life and elevate it to a new phase. He also assured that the college would soon transition to Yaba University of Technology and Vocational Studies.
On how the government can enable more young Nigerians to leverage technology for entrepreneurship, the senator advised that federal and state governments should prioritize digital skills training, including basic digital literacy, coding, and related skills, from secondary school upwards.
He urged private sector and ecosystem players to partner with educational institutions to align curricula with industry-relevant digital skills and provide internships for hands-on experience.
The Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, said entrepreneurship is one of Nigeria’s most urgent needs.
“We must move from consuming technology to producing it. Our youths must be problem solvers, not just certificate holders, for us to progress as a nation. I am an alumnus of this institution, and as it transitions to a university, it must not lose the YABATECH advantage,” he said.
The Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, said the country is at a time when digital transformation is redefining global competitiveness, and Nigeria must not lag behind. He added that the institution is embarking on transformative initiatives to redefine teaching, learning, research, and innovation.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Funso Afolabi, commended the choice of Bamidele as the speaker, noting that his qualifications speak volumes. He also lauded the staff and management of the college for their dedication and initiatives that are taking the institution to greater heights.
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