Dogara upbraids Northern Governors over Tax Bills now shelved in NASS
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Northern opinion leaders and federal lawmakers remain divided over the Tax Reform Bills even as they are temporarily shelved both in the Senate and House of Representatives to allow for more consultation.
Some lawmakers seek to advance the bills but Northern leaders, among them former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, demand a review of the proposals, insisting disparities must be resolved.
The four bills, which were submitted to the National Assembly (NASS) in October after approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), aim to overhaul the tax system and improve revenue generation.
The documents are Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
Dogara on need for self-introspection
In his take on the matter, former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara criticised Northern Governors for their rejection of the bills at a town hall for Northern Christian leaders.
Dogara blasted Northern Governors for failing to effectively manage resources despite the region’s substantial federal allocations over the years, as reported by The PUNCH.
“The problem is not the Tax Reform Bills; it is the poor management of resources by our leaders,” he said, noting that despite having held key positions in the federal government for decades, the North continues to lag behind the South in development.
“With the leadership roles we have had over the years, we should not be this backward. The issue is not about federal allocations or appointments; it is about how our resources have been mismanaged.”
Dogara insisted that underdevelopment in the North cannot be blamed on external factors or the Tax Reform Bills, urging Northern leaders to take responsibility for their failure to harness available resources to uplift the region.
Position of League of Northern Democrats
Shekarau spoke on behalf of the League of Northern Democrats (LND) at the public presentation of the findings of the technical committee in Abuja, where he expressed cautious optimism about the potential of the tax bills to raise Nigeria’s economy.
However, he stressed that several provisions in the bills could have negative implications for the North and called for a careful review.
“We view the tax reforms as a necessary step toward economic growth, but the concerns of Nigerians, particularly those in the North, must be considered,” he said.
Shekarau cited sections of the proposals, including on inheritance laws and tax exemptions, which he argued may conflict with religious and cultural practices in the North,
LND technical committee, led by Bala Ibn Na’Allah, listed other concerns to include about the informal sector, tax compliance, and redistribution of resources, suggesting amendments to ensure reform aligns with the unique economic context of Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Back in the House of Representatives, some Southern lawmakers, including Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun), are confident that the tax bills will progress to second reading despite opposition from the North.
“The tax bills are a done deal,” Oke said. “We will engage with our colleagues from the North and make necessary adjustments to accommodate their concerns.”
In contrast, Northern lawmakers maintained that their position has not changed, arguing that the bills, in their current form, may have negative consequences for the region.
One who spoke on condition of anonymity recounted that the meeting between House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Northern Governors earlier this week failed to sway Northern lawmakers.
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