Tax Bills: I Stand By My Comments, Can’t Be Threatened, Bauchi Gov Tells Presidency

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said that he firmly stands by his criticisms of the federal government’s Tax Reform Bills, adding that he cannot be threatened by the Presidency.

The governor had in a comment a few days ago argued that the proposed tax reform legislations sent to the National Assembly for consideration by the Presidency were skewed to favour one part of the country over the others with the North in particular at disadvantaged.

Governor Mohammed maintained that the dogged refusal of the federal government to withdraw the tax reform bills for modifications in the face of criticisms from relevant stakeholders across the country may lead to anarchy.

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The Presidency, however, countered Governor Mohammed’s criticism of the Bills, accusing the Bauchi State governor of threatening President Bola Tinubu.

But, speaking in a live interview with Channels Television on Tuesday night, the governor said it was high time that the Presidency listened to complaints and criticisms on the Tax Reform Bills in order to make amendments.

He noted that while the Bills have some positive aspects, there were other aspects of them that put States in a comparative disadvantage in their quest to meet basic statutory obligations to their citizens.

“They should listen to us. We must have the courage to ask the Presidency listen to Nigerians,” he stated.

Governor Mohammed said he supported the reform plans of President Tinubu at the beginning, but that does not debar constructive criticisms about policies that would put one part of the country at a disadvantaged economic position.

The governor demanded transparency in subsidy removal policy and equalisation of exchange regimes to make the anticipated impacts trickling down to the sub-national levels.

Governor Mohammed decried that while allocation to states increased, the value of the Naira has reduced tremendously complicating execution of infrastructural projects.