Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has rejected the tax reform bills backed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming they will devastate the north.
The laws, which attempt to prioritise the place of consumption as the foundation for distributing Value Added Tax, have met fierce opposition, particularly from the north, with stakeholders urging for their removal.
Northern governors, traditional rulers, and the Northern Elders Forum have all opposed the proposed measures, claiming they are not in the best interests of the nation. amid protests and rejections of the law, the Senate passed the bills for second reading on Thursday, amid crowded conditions in plenary.
Speaking about the situation in an interview, the governor expressed concern with how the bills moved quickly and smoothly to the current level while other bills took many years to pass.
He stated, “We condemn the legislation submitted to the National Assembly. They will drive the north backward, and these bills will cause problems in the South East, South West, and several states in the South West, including Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo.
“It is not opposition. Based on what we understand, this will completely demolish the north. Therefore, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to rethink this judgement.
He won 60% of the votes in the north. He should disregard people who claim that northerners do not back him. All we ask is that our interests be served. What we require now is the retraction of the tax bills.
“Why the haste! There was a petroleum bill introduced, but it took nearly 20 years to pass. However, this one was conveyed and is now gaining parliamentary attention within a week.
What we are saying is that it should be handled with care and prudence so that our children can benefit from it even after we are gone. “How we see it, if these legislation pass, we will be unable to pay salaries. And if we pay, it will not be viable the following year.”
When asked if the laws will aggravate hunger and suffering in the north, Zulum replied, “Yes, including security.” But they are claiming otherwise. We are opposed to it, as is Lagos, and believe it will stymie progress.
If this is the case, why won’t they rescind it? Our National Assembly members, as well as some from the Southern region, do not support these bills.” However, the governor underlined that his disagreement to the measures was not a sign of hostility to the government, but rather a demand to rescind the decision.
“This is our position and does not imply that we oppose the administration. We supported and voted for President Tinubu. But these bills will not benefit us.”
When asked if lawmakers would pass the laws if lobbied and paid kickbacks, Zulum replied, “There are speculations, but we are not positive.
But you know we’re in Nigeria! What I’m saying is, let us all be patriotic. We have children, grandchildren, and relatives living in villages, therefore we must be cautious not to support anything that will inhibit the progress of the north and other regions. We are asking the President to listen to us and address our issues.”
