The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders, have called on lawmakers from the North to turn down the tax reform bills by the federal government.
In a communique issued at the end of their Town Hall meeting on Thursday at Arewa House, Kaduna, the groups maintained that the bills did not reflect the realities on the ground.
According to the communique signed on behalf of the groups by Muhammed Sanusi Ali, the tax reforms could increase poverty, unemployment, weaken educational institutions and worsen the present economic hardship.
The communique called for the “immediate withdrawal of the bills and urged the federal government to adopt a more inclusive and people-centered approach to economic reforms.”
The communique read: “At the townhall meeting, the following key deliberations and observations were made regarding the proposed tax reform bills.
“The participants observed that the proposed tax reform bills, far from being catalysts for economic growth, would increase the existing economic challenges facing the North and Nigeria as a whole.
“The reforms are likely to deepen poverty, increase unemployment, and stifle local businesses already grappling with economic hardship.
“The Town Hall meeting noted with great concern the provisions in the bills that propose the defunding of pivotal national institutions such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
“These institutions are critical to education, innovation, and technological advancement, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and their defunding would undermine regional and national development.
“It was observed that the reforms appear to disproportionately target Northern Nigeria, raising suspicions about their intent.
“The region, already lagging in economic development, would bear a significant share of the economic burden, further marginalising its population.”
The groups further criticised alleged lack of meaningful consultation and engagement with stakeholders, particularly those from Northern Nigeria, during the formulation of the bills.
The communique stated: “This exclusion has resulted in policies that fail to reflect the realities and needs of the majority of Nigerians.”
John Shiklam
Follow us on:
