Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, revealed during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, why Northern Governors Forum is asking President Bola Tinubu to halt the controversial tax reform bills, citing concerns over potential inequalities in their implementation.
He explained that the governors believe the reforms, particularly provisions related to Value Added Tax (VAT), would favor states like Lagos and Rivers while putting northern states at a disadvantage.
“On this tax issue, there are a lot of misconceptions. Based on the calculations that we did, only Lagos and Rivers States will benefit from this scheme. We did our own research and concluded that we would lose,” Zulum said.
The forum’s position is that the federal government should take a more deliberate approach before implementing the reforms.
“Why are we in a rush? We advised the Federal Government to take a pause and expunge some of the clauses that are inimical not only to Northern Nigeria.
“Give more time, let us do a deeper consultation to understand the nitty-gritty of this tax regime before passing it into law,” Zulum added.
The governor stressed that if passed in its current form, the bill would disproportionately benefit certain states while shortchanging others, particularly in the North.
Clarifying Stance on Tinubu’s Administration
Responding to claims that the North is opposing President Tinubu, Zulum described such narratives as misleading.
He recalled his support for Tinubu before the 2023 elections, including his advocacy for power rotation to the South.
“I am a strong member of APC. Before the 2023 elections, I publicly said power must go to the South. Over 60 per cent of President Tinubu’s votes in the 2023 elections came from the North. We cannot be against him,” Zulum said.
The tax reform bills have sparked debates nationwide, with critics arguing that they could exacerbate regional inequalities.
Zulum maintained that the northern governors’ stance was not against reform itself but aimed at ensuring fairness and equity across the federation.
As the debate continues, stakeholders are urging the federal government to carefully review the proposed policies to ensure they promote balanced development.