Monday, December 2, 2024 - Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has revealed why the northern governors are urging President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the contentious tax reform bills.
This comes following the stiff resistance the tax reform bills have
faced from different quarters, especially from elites in Northern Nigeria.
The Northern Governors Forum, the Northern Elders Forum, the National
Economic Council, and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, among others, have openly
called for the withdrawal of the bills because they do not reflect the region’s
interests.
During his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Zulum
clarified that the Northern Governors Forum is not opposed to the
administration but rather seeks time for consultation.
Zulum emphasised that the northern governors are not against President
Tinubu, considering the region contributed significantly to his 2023 electoral
victory, with over 60 per cent of his votes coming from the north.
The governor expressed concerns that if the bill passes through the
National Assembly, states would be disadvantaged, as Lagos State would be the
primary beneficiary of the policy.
“I’m not withdrawing my statement; to my own observations, if this tax
bill is passed, the North, South East, South South, and South West will all be
shortchanged. The only state that will benefit is Lagos.”
President Tinubu in October asked the National Assembly to pass the
bills into law.
The bills are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill
2024-SB.583; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024-SB.584; the
Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024-SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill
2024-SB.586.
Despite the rejection, the tax reform bills passed a second reading in
the Senate on November 28.
0 Comments