Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has strongly urged for the withdrawal of the recently proposed tax reform bills. Zulum's statement comes in response to the tax reform proposals introduced to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in September. The Governor expressed concerns that the tax reforms could significantly hinder development in the northern region, exacerbating existing challenges in the area.
Governor Zulum’s opposition is shared by several Northern governors, traditional rulers, and groups such as the Northern Elders Forum. These influential voices in the north have expressed alarm over the impact the reforms might have on the region’s economic growth. Despite this widespread opposition, the Senate proceeded to advance the bills to a second reading on Thursday, amidst a tense plenary session. Zulum, however, has been vocal in his frustration about the rapid pace at which the bills are advancing through the legislative process, pointing out that similar proposals typically take years to gain traction within the National Assembly.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Governor Zulum passionately condemned the bills, stating, “We condemn these bills transmitted to the National Assembly. They will drag the north backward, and not only the north, South East, South West and some states in the South West such as Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, will have problems with these bills.” He further emphasized that the proposed reforms were not merely a political opposition but rather a genuine concern about the future well-being of the northern region. He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other stakeholders to review the decision, given the historical support the north had provided to the president in the past elections. Zulum reminded that Tinubu secured 60% of his votes from the north and urged the president to take this into consideration, advising that the president should not be swayed by those who claim the north does not support him. According to Zulum, the region's interests must be considered, stressing, “What we need now is the withdrawal of the tax bills.”
The Governor questioned the urgency with which the bills are being pushed forward, highlighting that other significant pieces of legislation, such as the Petroleum Bill, took nearly two decades to pass. Zulum found it troubling that the tax reform bills were being fast-tracked and receiving legislative attention within just a week of being introduced. He called for the bills to be treated with more caution and care to ensure that the decisions made would benefit not only the present generation but also future generations. He warned that if these bills are passed, they could leave the northern region struggling to even meet basic obligations like paying salaries. Furthermore, Zulum pointed out that such measures would be unsustainable in the long run, even if salaries were somehow paid in the short term.
When asked if he believed the bills could worsen the hunger and poverty already prevalent in the northern region, Zulum affirmed that the reforms could have a devastating impact. He added, “Including security. But they’re saying otherwise. We are against it, Lagos is against it; that it will drag it backwards. If this is the situation, then why won’t they rescind it?” Zulum's criticism also reflected the sentiment of many National Assembly members, including some from the Southern region, who have voiced their opposition to the proposed reforms. The Governor concluded by reiterating the need for a reconsideration of the tax bills, given the potential harm they could cause to the region's socio-economic stability.
