Northern groups, including Nigeria First Project Initiative, Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative and the Coalition of Northern Nigerian Students Forum, have warned politicians against hiding under the guise of debating the tax reform bills introduced by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to blackmail the administration.
In a communiqué issued Thursday, at the end of a one-day engagement with youth groups, students and community-based organisations by the aforementioned groups at Arewa House, Kaduna, the group said the tax reform bills, “if implemented effectively,” could “significantly enhance the country’s revenue base, reduce over-dependence on oil revenue and ensure a more equitable tax system.”
The communiqué read, “On Thursday, January 16, 2025, representatives of credible and non-partisan pan-Nigerian civil society organisations, including youth and student groups from across the seven states of Northwest Nigeria, convened at Arewa House, the historic residence of the Sardauna of Sokoto and the first Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
“Participants recognised that the tax reform bills, if implemented effectively, could significantly enhance the country’s revenue base, reduce over-dependence on oil revenue and ensure a more equitable tax system. The reforms aim to simplify Nigeria’s tax structure, broaden the tax net to include more sectors, and encourage compliance while supporting economic growth. These benefits are crucial for long-term fiscal stability and sustainable development in the country.
“Regrettably, the discourse on the tax reform bills has been heavily politicised, regionalised and ethnically charged. Self-proclaimed regional and ethnic champions have infused toxic politics and sentiments into the debate, thereby overshadowing quality contributions that could benefit the people and improve the economy.
“Certain political actors are deliberately manipulating public sentiment, disguising personal interests under the guise of regional or national concern. This has shifted the debate from a focus on tax reforms to an agenda centered on the 2027 general elections.
“The fundamental challenge facing Northern Nigeria lies in leadership failures at the sub-national level, which have hindered the effective utilisation of the region’s abundant resources to uplift the majority. The tax reform bills present an opportunity for the North – a call to action for its leaders to explore innovative strategies for harnessing the region’s vast potentials.
