Northern Christian leaders under the aegis of the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) has thrown its weight behind the current tax reform of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
CHAIN has, therefore, appealed to all Nigerians to be cautious of comments that are sentimental, divisive, or that could undermine the unity of the country.
The group further enjoined Christian leaders to recommend, promote, and encourage their elected representatives both at the State and National Assemblies to ensure areas of disagreement are addressed, so that the bill be passed instead of calling for its outright rejection.
Concerned by the controversies surrounding the proposed tax reform bills sent to the National Assembly by the President, the body after a town hall meeting held in Kaduna for Christian leaders in the 19 Northern states and FCT issued a communique to justify their stance.
The theme of the meeting is: “Church and society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”.
The Town Hall Meeting had in attendance prominent Nigerian leaders from the Northern extraction and experts in tax laws.
Among them are Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the 8th National Assembly, who was a keynote speaker, Mr Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, who was represented by the former Deputy Governor of Kogi state, Simon Achuba, who chaired the occasion.
Others are some serving and former members of the House of Representatives, Prof. Seth Akutson, a former Vice Chancellor and seasoned Economist, Mr Samuel Atung SAN, Kasai Jesse Arung, Friday Ive Mamman, a fellow chartered Accountant amongst other discussants
After a long deliberation and extensive discussions, the meeting cited biblical reasons over its resolve to support the move.
The body which deflated the rumour making the rounds that the tax reform is anti-north, further callenged the citizens to hold elected officials at all levels accountable on how resources meant for development are utilised for the benefit of the people.
In the communique, a copy which was made available to Blueprint partly reads: “tax is biblical and is not strange to Christianity as the Holy Bible admonishes Christians to pay tax to constituted authorities, Jesus also taught his disciples to pay taxes.”
The communique stated further that it understood that there are sweeping changes these reforms aim to introduce, assuring that at the end, it would ease the financial burden on low-income earners, among many other benefits to Nigerians.
It reads further: “There is a need for the Christian community to take interest in the affairs of governance and be directly involved in issues that affect citizens at all levels of government should not be taken lightly.
“Christian leaders are enjoined to recommend, promote, and encourage their elected representatives both at the State and National Assemblies to ensure areas of disagreement are addressed, so that the bill be passed instead of calling for its outright rejection.
“Christians and Nigerians in general must not continue in the old ways, which have delayed our progress, as Nations are built on the positive contributions of citizens.
“Christians must always speak the truth because the gospel itself is the truth, and must avoid speaking out of sentiments.
“Northern leaders should focus on developing the citizens and bring out their potentials for the growth of the region and the nation in general.
“There is room for citizens to make input on all aspects of the bill since it has not been passed.
“The impression that the tax reform is anti north is unfounded.
“We urge the citizens to hold elected officials at all levels accountable on how resources meant for development are utilised for the benefit of the people.”
The north the group admonished should fix a day of prayers and confession over the backwardness, underdevelopment, insecurity, religious intolerance and illiteracy for God’s mercy.
