Only Lagos would be a major beneficiary in Tinubu’s tax reform bills – Borno gov Zulum
Prof. Babagana Zulum, the Borno State Governor, has joined the important figures criticising the proposed tax reform bills, saying its implementation would disproportionately benefit Lagos State, leaving other states, including the North, disadvantaged.
Zulum, while speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, clarified that his reservations about the bills should not be misconstrued as opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The governor, while emphasising his unwavering support for the president, noted his role in advocating for power to shift to the South and highlighting that 60.2% of Tinubu’s votes came from the North, adding that the governors had advised the federal government during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting to pause and allow for deeper stakeholder consultations before proceeding with the bills.
“There are misconceptions about this tax issue. In a democratic setting, consultation is vital. We are simply asking for the right to be consulted, not opposing the administration,” he said.
The governor also expressed concerns about the bills’ potential economic implications for states outside Lagos.
According to Zulum, analyses suggest that while Lagos might benefit, others, including the Southeast, South-South, and even parts of the Southwest, would suffer adverse effects.
“Based on calculations, only Lagos will benefit. Why the rush? Let’s pause and analyze these bills thoroughly. This is our contention, not an attack on the president,” he explained.
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The governor reiterated the need for comprehensive discussions to address the bills’ broader implications and ensure equitable benefits for all states.
Tax reform bills: Nigerians deserve to be carried along – Atiku tells NASS
Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election on Sunday, urged the National Assembly to be objective and transparent in its public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills, adding that the public hearing should facilitate open and inclusive participation by all stakeholders.
The former vice president, via his official X handle, urged the NASS to ensure that the content of the bill aligned with the interests of Nigerians.
He wrote: “I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest.
“Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity. They are loud and clear that the fiscal system we seek to promote must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by enhancing the status of a few states while unduly penalising others.
“I call for objectivity and transparency in the conduct of the public hearing being organised by our representatives in the National Assembly. As a concerned stakeholder, I firmly believe that transparency and objectivity are essential for promoting accountability, good governance, and public trust in policy-making.
“The public hearing process must facilitate open and inclusive participation by all stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and subject matter experts.
“In this wise, I call on the NASS to revisit and make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council, a key stakeholder and an important organ of the state with the constitutional power to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation.
“The NASS must be appropriately guided and ensure that in the final analysis, the contents of the Bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians.”
