MAIDUGURI: Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised serious concerns about the proposed tax reform bills, warning that they could have devastating effects on the Northern region and other parts of Nigeria. In an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Governor Zulum criticized the swift progress of the bill through the legislative process, drawing comparisons with the Petroleum Industry Bill, which took nearly two decades to pass.
Why the rush? The Petroleum Industry Bill took almost 20 years before it was passed, but this tax reform bill is being fast-tracked through the legislature in just one week. It should be handled with care and caution, ensuring that even after we leave office, our children will benefit from it, Zulum remarked.
The governor further alleged that the bill was designed to disadvantage certain regions of the country. We strongly oppose these bills sent to the National Assembly. They will set the North back and also harm the South East, South West, and some South-Western states like Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo, he added.
Zulum also suggested that some individuals may be influencing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into believing that the North does not support his administration. This is not opposition. Based on our understanding, this bill will devastate the North. We urge President Tinubu to reconsider this decision.
secured 60% of his votes from the North and should not listen to those claiming the North does not support him. What we need is for these tax bills to be withdrawn, he said.
The governor warned that if the bill is passed, Northern states would struggle to finance development projects, including paying salaries. “If these bills pass, we won’t even be able to pay salaries. And if we do, it won’t be sustainable the following year,” he said.
Read also:
- North Slam New Tax Bill: Warn of Dire Economic Consequences
- https://rapidospace.com/presidency-clari…l-states-equally/
- How Nigeria Can Improve Its Economy by Leveraging Indian Economic Reforms
- President Tinubu’s Stunted Economic Growth and Its Impact on Nigerian Zulum also noted that even Lagos State, traditionally a strong supporter of the government, opposed the bill. If this bill is dragging regions backward, why wouldn’t they reconsider it? Our National Assembly members, including some from the South, are also against it, he lamented.
Speaking on behalf of the North East, the governor clarified that their opposition to the bill does not equate to opposition to the government. This is our position, and it doesn’t mean we are against the government. We supported and voted for President Tinubu, but these bills will not benefit us, he emphasized.
The Rapidospace News reports that the Senate passed the tax reform bills for a second reading on Thursday after a debate among lawmakers. The bills were then referred to the Committee on Finance, which has been instructed to provide a report within six weeks.
The four bills sent to the National Assembly include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which aims to establish the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a legal framework for taxes and help reduce disputes.
Other bills include the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and create the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which proposes the creation of a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman
