Tax Reform Bill: Northern Youths Seek Thorough Scrutiny, Wider Consultation

A northern good governance advocacy group, Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative (NSYEI) has advocated thorough scrutiny and wider consultation on the federal government’s tax reform bill that is currently before the National Assembly.

The NSYEI is a non-political, non-tribal and non-religious youth movement that aims at uniting and protecting the interests of the North. It is a pressure group that promotes good governance, unity, progress and development of northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna, the group’s director general, Dr Abdullahi Idris, said, “Having studied the controversial bill thoroughly, our Group has come to the conclusion that though there are aspects of it that may be beneficial, sections, especially those that deal with the distribution of VAT revenue, are unfair and will lead to economic adversity for the North.
He therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to withdraw it with immediate effect.

Wondering why there were not enough consultations before the bill was presented to the National Assembly, Dr Idris called on members of the National Assembly, especially those from the north, not to endorse it lest they incur the wrath of their people.

He recalled that the bill was presented for passage into law in its current form against the advice of many well-meaning Nigerians, including the National Economic Council, because of its potential to benefit some sections of the country at the detriment of others.

Finally, Dr Idris called on the federal government to withdraw the bill and allow for more thorough scrutiny and wider consultations before it is reintroduced to the National Assembly for passage into law.