- He asserted that the bill would not only have a severe negative impact on the North but other regions too
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has said the North will vehemently oppose President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reforms Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Zulum made the position of the region known in an interview with BBC Hausa posted on X.
He asserted that the bill would not only have a severe negative impact on the North but other regions too, hence the North will not be party to the proposed legislation.
Zulum warned that the tax reforms would lead to economic decline, hunger, poverty, and insecurity, especially in the northern region.
Expressing further concerns on affordability and sustainability, he says, “Our agitation is that we know if passed into law, we will not be able to pay and if, we pay once, the next year, it will become trouble because we won’t be able to pay again.
“Let’s not create problems and leave them behind for our future generations.”
According to him, Lagos State has also expressed concerns about the bill, citing potential economic difficulties thereby underscoring the widespread concern across regional lines.
The governor appealed to President Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and consider the region’s concerns with compassion, citing the North’s significant contribution of about 60 percent votes to his presidential victory.
“We believe this Bill, if passed into Law will completely destroy or kill the North as a whole. We are calling on all relevant stakeholders including President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to raise up and look into this matter.
“It will not only affect the North, but the Eastern and Western even the South-South regions. States like Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo will have problems too. They are equally saying it will also take Lagos State backward and if that’s the case, we all don’t want Lagos to go backward.
“Therefore, let’s leave things the way they are currently.”
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