By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has criticized northern governors for generating unnecessary controvers...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has criticized northern governors for generating unnecessary controversy over the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
In October, President Tinubu urged the National Assembly to consider and pass four key tax reform bills: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. However, the northern governors initially opposed these proposals.
On Thursday, the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), which includes the northern governors, expressed support for the bills but proposed that the Value Added Tax (VAT) should not be increased.
In a statement on Friday, Yerima Shettima, the national president of the AYCF, described the initial opposition to the bills by the northern governors as a disservice to their people.
“After creating needless controversy and misleading the public, these governors have inexplicably backed down on their opposition to the reforms,” Shettima said.
He explained that the northern governors had initially presented a united front against the proposed reforms, arguing that they could negatively impact the already struggling northern economy. While this stance may have been understandable in light of the region’s socio-economic challenges, Shettima argued that their position was fundamentally flawed.
“Their arguments lacked substance and failed to recognize the crucial role of robust taxation in funding vital public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” Shettima noted.
Instead of engaging constructively with the government to address specific concerns and negotiate amendments, the governors chose divisive rhetoric that fueled public unrest and hindered national progress, according to the AYCF president.
“This approach reflects a lack of foresight and strategic planning, and exposes their failure to effectively represent the interests of their constituents,” Shettima added.
He emphasized that effective taxation is the cornerstone of a prosperous and functioning nation, stating, “We firmly believe that the benefits of these reforms significantly outweigh any potential drawbacks.”
Increased tax revenue, he said, would enable the government to invest in critical sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation, thereby improving the quality of life for all Nigerians, including those in the north.
Shettima concluded that the governors’ actions appeared to be driven by short-sighted political considerations, rather than a genuine commitment to the development of the northern region.
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