AFRICA

Northern Elders’ Forum Demands Immediate Suspension of Proposed Tax Reform Bills

The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) on Saturday, demanded immediate suspension of the proposed Tax Reform Bills.

The convener of NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, had in a communique issued after the forum Board of Trustees’ second bi-annual meeting, in Abuja on Saturday, November 23, 2024 rejected the tax bills and warned against policies that could further marginalise the north’s resource potential.

In a fresh statement issued yesterday by the Chairman of the Management Board of NEF, Air Marshal Al-Amin Musa Daggash (rtd.), the forum expressed dismay at the way and manner the tax reforms were prepared.

NEF described the bills as “terribly shocking,” and accused the Tinubu-led administration of “its citizens the vigorous ventilation of democratic opinions and freedom of expression.”

According to the statement, the proposed Tax Reform Bills by the federal government, were clearly in breach with regards to adhering to “common characteristics of reforms and public policy-making process, all over the world and in conformity with the global best practice.”

However, the group made it clear that Nigerians in general and Northerners in particular “are not really against the introduction of any form of good and meaningful reforms by those in positions of authority at the federal, state, or local government levels.”

NEF argued that the federal government would have engaged with Nigerians, critical stakeholders, and experts in extensive pre-reform meetings in order to secure their buy-in.

 “The leadership of Northern Elders’ Forum, holds the firm view that the government’s interests will best be served and promoted by actively engaging in comprehensive dialogue with varied and critical stakeholders, in order to foster very admirable legislative outcomes that will respect the rights of all citizens and promote their individual and collective wellbeing, while at the same time ensuring the attainment of a balanced approach to taxation that prioritises national unity, progress, and economic development.

“In the light of these unassailable considerations, the leadership of the Northern Elders’ Forum hereby strongly recommends the following: That, the federal government should immediately suspend the rush to implement the proposed Tax Reform Bills, so as to more wisely use the medium of dialogue to allay all concerns, collect all quality contributions and critical inputs from cross sections of Nigerian stakeholders, and then finally proceed to accommodate and redesign the sequencing of the implementation strategy.

“That, as a consumption tax that drastically reduces the purchasing power of citizens, fuels inflation and hikes in interest rates, no increase in VAT should be imposed, pending the emergence into the national horizon of clear evidence of the promised economic recovery by the government.

“That the proposed formula contained in the NTAB is not fair to the states where VAT revenue is generated, as the consuming states are denied credit for what has been generated from them. Since VAT is a General Consumption Tax (GCT), the rule of attribution based on the location of consumption should be uniformly applied.

“That, since Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants the RMAFC the sole authority to determine the formula for equitable revenue sharing among the three tiers of government, no attempt should be made by the ruling authority to whimsically change this provision, as doing so is capable of undermining the law of the land and disrespecting democratic principles.

“The plan to move the exceedingly performing developmental and technological institutions, with a secured means of sustainability, such as TETFund, NITDA, and NASENI, to the uncertain and hazardous future of budgetary allocation should be halted. We strongly recommend that the status quo should be maintained by the government so as to strengthen and protect these strategic national institutions.

“That, given our diversity and the importance the government attaches to promoting financial inclusion, the use of contentious terms like “ecclesiastical” in the original proposed Tax Reform Bills, should be seamlessly replaced with “religious.”

“That religious, charitable organisations and family inheritance wealth should be exempted from paying all forms of taxes, as this is prone to conflicts over citizens’ strict adherence to some religious obligatory laws.

“That, conspicuously missing and consciously evaded by the framers of the Tax Reform Bills, is the issue of agricultural goods (produce) and livestock, a big ecosystem, which constitutes the strength of Northern Nigeria’s economy, yet, for certain inexplicable reasons, they have all been declared VAT-exempt/non-VATable. Obviously, the repercussion of this exclusion on the Northern part of Nigeria is glaringly disproportionate.”

John Shiklam

Follow us on:

John Shiklam

View Comments

  • <<<<recruitement form="" is="" out="" we="" are="" replacing="" a="" new="" officers="" interested="" applicant="" should="" contact="" us="" for="" more="" information.;="">>><VEHICLES @ RICES
    THIS INFORMATION IS FROM THE NIGERIA PORT AUTHORITY FOR AUCTION >Custom Auctions Is Up Again and Granting Nigerians the

    Privilege to Own Vehicles at Affordable RatesFOR MORE INFORMATION Call or message on WhatsApp(Officer Omar Patrick)) 07O ___-6875 __-7992
    RICE AVAILABLE FOR SALES ARE :-
    MamaGold=30,500
    Royal umbrella=30,500
    Mama Gold=30,500
    Rising sun=30,500
    Mama Africa=30,500
    Elephant Gold=30,500
    Caprice =30,500
    NOTE: Delivery fee IS (#5000) which must be paid before we ensure your delivery..
    *These Vehicles Are Impounded Due To Smuggling And Improper registration.*
    *These Vehicles Are Direct Tokunbo and Has Never Been Used In Nigeria.*.For any purchase
    Call the officer((Omar Patrick))
    07O -6875 _-7992
    #TOYOTA
    TOYOTA CAMRY ₦2.2 650,000
    TOYOTA CAMRY ₦2.4 850,000
    TOYOTA COROLLA ₦900,000
    TOYOTA MATRIX ₦800,000
    TOYOTA SIENNA ₦950,000
    TOYOTA RAV4 ₦1.2 MILLION
    TOYOTA VENZA ₦3.5 MILLION
    TOYOTA CAMRY SPIDER ₦1.8 MILLION
    TOYOTA HIACE BUS ₦2.5 MILLION
    TOYOTA PRADO ₦4 MILLION
    TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ₦1.8 MILLION
    •Toyota Land Cruiser-N1.3m
    •Toyota Prado N1.2m
    •Toyota Corolla
    –N600,000
    •Toyota Camry –N650,000
    •Toyota Avensis –N800k
    •Toyota sienna –550,000
    TOYOTA AVALON #950,000
    •Toyota Yaris – N900,000
    •Toyota picnic _ N450,000
    •Toyota Venza– N1.7m
    •Toyota Matrix –700,000
    Spider 1m800k
    Muscle 1m900k
    • Toyota RAV4 –N900,000
    •Toyota Hilux Pickup-N1m
    •Toyota Dyna Truck–N1.3million
    •Toyota 4 Runner–N1m
    tundra 2.670,000
    tacoma 2.5Million
    •Toyota Hiace Bus –N1.5m
    •Toyota Highlander-N1.2m
    •Toyota Big daddy-800k

    Toyota Camry Big Daddy=N550,000.
    Toyota Camry Tiny-Light=N400,000.
    Toyota Avenza =N950,000. To 1.3 million
    Toyota Hilux=N 1.2 million
    Toyota Avensis=N450,000.
    Toyota Camry Muscle=N 600,000. & Spider=N650,000.
    Toyota Avalon=N600,000.
    Toyota Rav4 SUV=N850,000.
    Toyota Sienna=N600,000.
    Toyota 4Runner=N800,000.
    Toyota Tundra=N 1.8 Million
    Toyota picnic=N450,000.
    Toyota Highlander=N1m550,000. to 2m
    Toyota Corolla=N500,000.
    Toyota Prado=N950,000. To 3.4 million
    Toyota LandCruisser=N950,000. to 3m
    Toyota Yaris=N750.000.
    Toyota Matrix=N550,000.
    Toyota Haice Bus=N 950,000 to N 1.3 Million
    Toyota Camry 2.4M Tiny-Light ₦850.000
    Toyota Camry Big-Daddy ₦950.000
    Toyota Camry Muscle ₦1.2M
    Toyota Camry Spider ₦1.3M
    Toyota Avalon ₦2.2M
    Toyota Avensis ₦1.2M
    Toyota Corolla ₦950.000
    Toyota Yaris ₦1.2M
    Toyota Matrix ₦900.000
    Toyota Picnic ₦1.1M
    Toyota Sienna ₦2.1M
    Toyota Venza ₦3.2M
    Toyota Rav4 ₦1.1M
    Toyota 4Runner ₦1.8M
    Toyota Hiace-Bus ₦2.9M
    Toyota Highlander ₦2.3M
    Toyota Land Cruiser ₦4.6M
    Toyota Tundra ₦4.8M
    Toyota Prado ₦5.3M
    #HONDA
    HONDA ACCORD ₦700,000
    HONDA PILOT ₦1.2 MILLION
    HONDA EOD ₦850,000
    HONDA ODYSSEY ₦1MILLION
    Honda Baby Boy= ₦780,000
    Honda Accord EOD= ₦950,000
    Honda City= ₦750,000
    Honda Crosstour= ₦1.2M
    Honda CR-V= ₦950k
    Honda Odyssey= ₦850,000
    Honda Pilot= ₦1Million
    Honda Pilot=N950,000.
    Honda Baby Boy=N500,000.
    Honda End of Discussion(EOD)=N550,000.
    Honda Accord=N500,000.
    Honda CRV=N800,000.
    Honda Accord ₦950,000
    Honda City ₦850,000
    Honda Civic ₦950.000
    Honda C-RV ₦1.5M
    Honda Crosstour ₦1.2M
    Honda Element ₦950.000
    Honda Evilspirit ₦1.1M
    Honda Odyssey ₦1.2M
    Honda Pilot ₦2.3M

    *Prices of some Volswagen cars:
    Golf 2-250,000
    Golf 3-N300,000
    Golf4-350,000
    Golf 5 -N550,000
    Jetta-N350,000
    Passat-N450,000
    #LEXUS
    LEXUS Es300 ₦1.3 MILLION
    LEXUS Es330 ₦1.6 MILLION
    LEXUS Es350 ₦2 MILLION
    LEXUS Rx300 ₦1.7 MILLION
    LEXUS Rx330 ₦3 MILLION
    LEXUS Rx350 ₦4 MILLION
    LEXUS RX400 ₦3.5 MILLION
    LEXUS GX460 ₦4 MILLION
    LEXUS GX470 ₦5 MILLION
    LEXUS ES300@#1.3 MILLION
    LEXUS ES330@#1.6 MILLION
    LEXUS ES350@#2 MILLION
    LEXUS RX300@#1.7 MILLION
    LEXUS RX330@#3 MILLION
    LEXUS RX350@#4 MILLION
    LEXUS RX400@#3.5 MILLION
    LEXUS GX460@#4 MILLION
    LEXUS GX470@#5 MILLION
    Lexus GX460=₦6.6M
    Lexus GX470=₦8.4M
    Lexus GX570=₦13.8M
    Lexus IS-250=₦2.1M
    Lexus ES-330=₦1.5M
    Lexus ES-350=₦2.6M
    Lexus RX300= ₦1.5M
    Lexus RX330= ₦2.8M
    Lexus RX350= ₦3.2M.
    Lexus Rx300=N800,000. To N2.1 Million
    Lexus Rx330=N850,000 To N2.2 Million
    Lexus Rx350=N900,000 To N3.3 Million
    Lexus Rx470=N3.m
    Lexus Rx330 ₦2.1M
    Lexus Rx350 ₦4.1M
    Lexus Rx400 ₦5.4M
    Lexus Gx470₦7M
    #MERCEDES
    MERCEDES C240 ₦1.3 MILLION
    MERCEDES C300 ₦1.7 MILLION
    MERCEDES ML350 ₦2.8 MILLION
    MERCEDES GLK350 ₦3.8 MILLION
    MERCEDES GL470 ₦4 Million.etc.
    BENZ C-CLASS ₦3,000,000
    MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 250 4.6M
    MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class ₦3,500,000
    MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class ₦4,000,000
    MERCEDES-BENZ GLK ₦4,500,000
    MERCEDES BENZ ML₦5,000,000
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦1.5 million
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦1.7 million
    Mercedes-Benz G-Class ₦2.5 million
    Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦3.5 Million
    Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4.8MILLION
    Mercedes Benz ML350 ₦2.3 million
    Mercedes Benz g-wagon ₦125 million.
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦3.5M
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦3.9M
    Mercedes-Benz G-Class ₦3.8M
    Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦4.6M
    Mercedes Benz ML₦5.6M
    Nissan pathfinder= ₦1.9M
    Nissan Altima= ₦1.820,000
    Nissan Armanda= ₦1.2M
    Nissan Murano 950,000
    Nissan Murano=N850,000. to N 1.2 Million
    Nissan Pathinder=N800,000. To N 1 million
    Nissan Altima=N800,000.
    Nissan Maxima=N600,000.
    Nissan Altima ₦1.2M
    Nissan Armada ₦2.3M
    Nissan Maxima N1M
    Nissan Murano ₦1.4M
    Nissan Primera ₦900,000
    Nissan Pathfinder ₦1.5M
    Nissan Maxima= ₦1.600,000.e.t.c.

    Range rover vogue 8mill
    Range rover sport HSE 4.8m
    Land rover 3.3m
    Land Rover Discovery ₦4.8M
    Land Rover Freelander ₦5.5M
    Land Rover Vogue ₦5.2M
    Range Rover Sport. ₦5.5M

    Acura ZDX 1.550,000
    Acura MDX 1.6m
    Acura TL ₦1.2M
    Acura MDX ₦2.2M
    Acura ZDX ₦1.9M

    MANY MORE EXCLUSIVE OFFER'S LIKE.....
    LAPTOPS, GENERATOR'S, FRIDGE, CONTAINERS, PHONE, MOTORCYCLE, AND KEKE.... Bales of Okirika Clothes 50kg for #35,000, 100kg for #75,000 and 150kg for #180,000

    👉KEKE MARUWA.
    Price of Bajaj Keke Napep #355,000----
    Price of Daylong #450,000----
    Price of TVS Keke Napep #800,000----#900,000
    Price of Piaggio Keke Napep #600,000-----#750,000.

    👉 CONTACT (Officer Omar Patrick) 07O -6875 _-7992
    Bags of cement #5,500
    Delivery cost is #1,000

    EVERY BUYER IS EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE DOCUMENTS OF THE VEHICLES BEFORE THE DELIVERY WILL COMMENCE!!!!WE DELIVER NATION WIDE NOTICE INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT IS ALLOWED!!! ONLY INTERESTED BUYERS SHOULD CONTACT: THE OFFICER(( Omar Patrick)) 07O -6875 _-7992THANKS FOR PATRONIZING WITH US.📞📞〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽..〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽..〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽

Recent Posts

Tinubu Arrives Ghana Ahead of Mahama’s Inauguration

President Tinubu has arrived in Accra for the inauguration of Ghana’s President-elect John Dramani Mahama…

7 hours ago

Governor Yusuf Swears in 7 Commissioners, 13 Advisers to Enhance Governance in Kano State

Governor Abba Yusuf has sworn in seven commissioners, thirteen advisers, and six permanent secretaries to…

8 hours ago

Canada PM Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation As Liberal Leader After Nine Years In Office

Justin Trudeau announced that he will resign as Liberal leader but will remain prime minister…

8 hours ago

Wike Vows Arrested Vandals Will Be Prosecuted Commends Police, Nigerians For Efforts To Stop Vandalism

FCT Minister Wike assures vandals of prosecution, lauds police and Nigerians for combating public infrastructure…

8 hours ago

Student Killed, Four Injured in Abuja School Explosion

An explosion at a school in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, has left one student dead…

8 hours ago

Fubo, Hulu + Live TV Join Forces in Major Streaming Merger

Disney partners with Fubo, gaining a 70% stake and resolving litigation over the Venu Sports…

9 hours ago