Zulum Dares Tinubu, Says North Will Reject Tax Reform Bills
7 months ago 3 min read
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The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, is leading the northern line against President Bola Tinubu in their move to stop the workability of the tax bills proposed by the president.
He has joined his party man from the state, Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South), who has been a vocal opponent of the bills, warning that the bills would harm the North, but has not provided how.
The president had in October asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.
They include the Nigeria tax bill, the tax administration bill, and the joint revenue board establishment bill.
Soon afterwards, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) opposed the bills, with no clear cut explanation as to their opposition.
Although the national economic council (NEC) asked Tinubu to withdraw them for further consultations, it’s being chaired by vice president Kashim Shettima who, like Zulum and Ndume, is from Borno State.
But experts and public commentators have blamed their opposition to the bills on lack of due diligence to read the content and internment of the bills the president has proposed.
Former presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, told THE WHISTLER in an exclusive interview that “there’s nothing wrong with the bills and the reforms the president is seeking.”
He said the reforms are for “equity, equal distribution” of revenues, and modernisation of the tax system as it has been many years since the last reform in the tax system took place.
Zulum who is serving his second term and would not stand for the ruling party’s governorship ticket in 2027 however argued in an interview with the BBC that the bills are meant to boost the economy of Lagos. The governor did not explain how.
But the president amid all the northern opposition said the bills would not be withdrawn, adding that the national assembly could make amendments as they deemed necessary.
Zulum vowed to rally lawmakers from the north to reject the tax bills and wondered why the rush to legislate the proposals when previous laws took years of debate.
In context, some northern lawmakers have spoken in favour of the proposed bills. Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jubrin from Kano and a House of Representatives member from Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, are notable figures that have backed the bills.
It’s not clear if they would make a u-turn and join the Zulum troops against the president in their opposition to the bills.
The governor claimed that the reforms would lead to poverty, hunger, and hardship in the north but did not explain how, but rather took a political stance reminding the president that the north handed him a chunk of the votes that led to his victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Zulum warned, “He should not ignore our concerns and the rumours that the north is not in his favour.”
He added, “What we fear is that some lawmakers might secretly support the bills, and politicians might bribe or persuade their members to vote for them.”
Zulum urged lawmakers from the north to remain vigilant and protect their interests, as the laws will harm them if passed.
