By John Audu
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has voiced strong opposition to the proposed Tax Reform Bills put forth by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, labeling them as flawed and potentially detrimental to the economic realities of Northern Nigeria. In a press statement signed by A.M. Al-Amin Daggash, Chairman of the NEF Board, the forum called for an immediate suspension of the reforms.
The NEF expressed concern that the proposed measures disproportionately affect Northern Nigeria, a region already grappling with issues such as insecurity, poverty, and youth unemployment. The forum stated, “It is terribly shocking that, in this time and age, with nearly three decades of unbroken democratic governance, our dear country is saddled with a government that is working assiduously to deny its citizens the vigorous ventilation of democratic opinions and freedom of expression.”
The proposed reforms include four bills: the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. These bills aim to enhance tax collection efficiency and increase government revenue. However, the NEF argues that the abrupt introduction of these “draconian Tax Reform Bills” will exacerbate the already harsh economic conditions faced by the poor and vulnerable in Northern Nigeria.
The forum criticized the Nigerian government for failing to adhere to global best practices in policy-making, particularly in stakeholder engagement and the establishment of a transparent implementation mechanism. “These glaring failures necessitated the timely setting up of a Committee of Experts on the field by the Northern Elders’ Forum,” the statement added.
Among its recommendations, the NEF urged the government to pause the implementation of the bills, prioritize dialogue with stakeholders, and reconsider plans to increase Value Added Tax (VAT). They called for the protection of strategic institutions such as TETFund, NITDA, and NASENI, stating, “We strongly recommend that the status quo should be maintained by the government to strengthen and protect these strategic national institutions.”
The forum also emphasized the need for equitable VAT revenue distribution and advocated for the exemption of agricultural goods and livestock from VAT, highlighting their significant impact on Northern Nigeria’s economy. Additionally, they proposed replacing contentious terms like “ecclesiastical” with “religious” to promote inclusivity and recommended exempting religious organizations and family inheritance wealth from taxation.
The NEF concluded by asserting that the government’s interests would be best served by actively engaging in comprehensive dialogue with diverse stakeholders to foster legislative outcomes that respect the rights of all citizens. The forum reaffirmed its commitment to contributing towards a transparent and equitable tax administration system that prioritizes national unity and economic progress.
