Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, on Sunday explained why northern governors advised President Bola Tinubu to pause before proceeding with the controversial tax reform bills.
The governor, speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, stated that the Northern Governors Forum needed additional time for consultations.
“On this tax issue, there are many misconceptions. We observed that the VAT provision in the proposed tax law, based on our calculations, would only benefit Lagos and Rivers States. Our research concluded that the northern states would suffer losses,” Zulum explained.
“Why the rush? We advised the Federal Government to hold off and remove clauses that would be detrimental to northern Nigeria.
“What we are asking for is more time to conduct deeper consultations and to fully understand the intricacies of this tax regime before it is passed into law.”
In October, President Tinubu asked the National Assembly to approve the bills. The proposals include the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 – SB.583; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024 – SB.584; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024 – SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 – SB.586.
However, on 28th November, the tax reform bills passed their second reading in the Senate.
Not Opposed to Tinubu’s Government
Zulum clarified that, contrary to some perceptions, the northern governors are not opposed to President Tinubu’s administration.
He recalled that, prior to the 2023 general election, he was among the few governors who insisted on power being rotated to the South.
As a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Zulum said he had supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition. According to him, the North cannot be accused of opposing Tinubu, as over 60 per cent of his votes in the 2023 general election came from the region.
He expressed disappointment over narratives suggesting that the North is against Tinubu’s government.
“I am a committed member of the APC. If you were to name two governors who supported Tinubu before 2019 and 2023, I would be among them. I was the first governor to publicly advocate for power to shift to the South.
“Unfortunately, the President was told by many that the North was against him. In reality, 60.2 per cent of his votes came from the North,” Zulum added.