Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar says President Bola Tinubu must be cautioned against any attempt to further pauperize the poor by introducing new taxes or increasing tax rates.

Atiku said people were aware of the behind-the-scenes attempts to increase VAT rate from 7.5% to 10%, re-introduce excise on telecommunication, and increase excise rates on a range of goods.

According to the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, “It needs to be restated that we cannot tax our way out of this situation”.

In a statement issued on Wednesday Atiku claimed Tinubu was not prepared for the reform fallouts.

“Tinubu must be cautioned against any attempt to further pauperize the poor by introducing new taxes or increasing tax rates. We are aware of the behind-the-scenes attempts to increase VAT rate from 7.5% to 10%, re-introduce excise on telecommunication, and increase excise rates on a range of goods

“Tinubu must see the need for expenditure rationalization and restraint – by having the budget more in sync with Nigeria’s fiscal reality, by improving efficiency in revenue utilization, improving procurement processes and trimming the size of government – and therefore reducing the cost of governance,” he said.