Tax reform bill: Middle-belt, Northern groups commend Tinubu, task him, NASS on synergy

• Ethnic groups in Nigeria’s Middle-Belt and North support President Tinubu’s tax reform bills, urging cooperation for successful legislative processes
• Former Ambassador Ibrahim Yakassai criticized northern leaders opposing the reforms, calling for lawmakers to allow necessary changes during deliberations

Ethnic groups in Nigeria’s Middle-Belt and North have expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills, urging cooperation between the presidency and the National Assembly to ensure the reforms proceed through due process.

The bills, currently before the National Assembly, aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system to align with global standards.

Former Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine, Ibrahim Yakassai, commended Tinubu for pushing tax reform, saying it is long overdue.

He criticized the Northern Governors’ Forum and traditional leaders for advising northern lawmakers to reject the bills, describing the move as misguided and unprogressive. Yakassai called on lawmakers to allow the legislative process to continue and for necessary changes to be made during deliberations.

The Association of the Middle-Belt Ethnic Nationalities (ASOMBEN) also emphasized the need for reform, particularly concerning the Value Added Tax (VAT) system.

ASOMBEN’s National President, Sule Kwasau, highlighted issues like regional VAT benefits and the potential replacement of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with a Nigeria Revenue Service.

He supported Tinubu’s insistence that the bills should remain with the National Assembly, emphasizing the need for an impartial, non-regional approach.

Similarly, the Progressive Northern Youth Forum (PNYF) praised Tinubu for his stance, urging the Northern Governors to focus on their states’ revenue generation instead of depending on federal allocations.

The group’s Secretary General, Abdulkadir Bala, stated that the tax reform would benefit the North by reducing dependence on the federal government, urging governors to take responsibility for financial autonomy.

These groups underscored the importance of prioritizing national unity over regional sentiments, commending Tinubu for maintaining his commitment to comprehensive tax reform despite opposition from some quarters.