Northern Groups, Others Reject Tax Reform Bills At Gombe Town Hall Meeting

Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and other Northern stakeholders have rejected the tax reform bills after a town hall meeting on the Tax Reform Bills presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A statement signed by Gombe State, Coordinator, CNG, Comrade Muhammed Usman Deba; Voice for Rural Women for Women Groups, Comrade Habiba Isah Gaude; and Ag. Chairman, CSOs, Comrade Lawal Idris Lawantee said that the speakers and participants almost unanimously rejected the tax reform bills, emphasizing that they do not reflect the realities of the people and could increase poverty, unemployment, weaken educational institutions, and economic hardship.

The town hall meeting called for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed bills and urged the federal government to adopt a more inclusive and people-centred approach to economic reforms. It also called on all lawmakers from the North to turn down the bill that was rejected by their constituents.

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) Gombe State Chapter, in collaboration with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and critical stakeholders, convened the town hall meeting at Gombe State University to discuss the theme: “Tax Reform Bills: A Catalyst for Economic Growth or a Burden on the People?”

The town hall meeting brought together a cross-section of policymakers, academics, civil society actors, community leaders, youth groups, and concerned citizens to deliberate on the implications of the proposed tax reform bills. Participants expressed profound concerns over the potential socioeconomic consequences of the reforms, highlighting the heavy burden they may impose on already struggling citizens and businesses in the region.

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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. They said 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). It said 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 marginalizing its population,” the statement reads.

The town hall meeting made the following recommendations; That banks should relocate their headquarters to Abuja; Reopening of land borders immediately to ease economic hardship, promote trade, and reduce the burden on struggling Nigerians; Reduction of VAT to 3% and rejected plan by telecommunications companies to increase tariffs; Total rejection of the Tax Reform Bill; Increased Funding for TETFUND, NITDA, and NASENI among others.