By Tanko Lami

Northern leaders have voiced their concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s insistence on moving forward with the contentious tax reform bills without reconsideration.

The leaders, including members of the National Assembly, the League of Northern Democrats, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, criticized the President’s stance, describing it as unilateral and lacking in broad-based consultation.

During his first media chat on Monday in Lagos, President Tinubu acknowledged that the reforms might not be universally welcomed but asserted that there would be no retreat on the policy.

He defended the tax reforms as necessary to dismantle outdated colonial-era structures in the nation’s tax system.

In an interview, Senator Mohammed Onawo, representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, urged the President to respect the independence of the National Assembly and allow lawmakers to fulfill their legislative responsibilities without undue interference.

Onawo emphasized the need for adherence to due process, adding that, as a former legislator, President Tinubu should uphold the legislative framework.

Onawo stated, “If the President, who was once a legislator, is passing judgment on bills that are before the National Assembly, it is unfortunate.

“Be it good or bad, the President should let the bills go through the normal legislative process and get the approval of the legislators. If they get approval, they will become law, but if they don’t, they die.

“I don’t subscribe to a situation where a president introduces a bill to the National Assembly and doesn’t give the lawmakers a chance to go through it and says it’s here to stay. For a legislature as reputable as this one, I think that’s wrong.”

He added, “Most of the people, even the legislators commenting on the bills, have not gone through the full content to know whether they’re good or bad. It’s just the summary that is being passed around.

“There is no bill initiated by anyone that is totally bad. The right thing is for legislators to go through the bills, identify contentious areas, and amend those that do not represent the public’s opinion or will not benefit the general public.

“Even laws as old as 100 years can be amended; so, I don’t see any reason why anyone will claim it’s good or bad without reviewing the content.

“We will look at the bills, and if any part is contentious or doesn’t benefit the people we represent, we will bring our opinions together, and at the end of the day, those with popular opinion will ensure the bills pass.”

Commenting on the matter, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, who represented Sokoto East in the 9th Assembly, accused President Bola Tinubu of engaging in “politics of tribalism” with the tax reform bills.

Gobir argued that the President cannot enforce the reforms without legislative approval.

He criticized the proposed distribution of value-added tax revenue, stating, “If the parliament agrees with the bills, that’s fine, but if they do not agree, what can he do? Will he do it without the legislature?

“The bills are not only about the North; they are about Nigeria. You cannot be the president of only the Yoruba; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. All Nigerians, not just Yoruba people, voted for him. Why should he be a regional president when this bill will benefit only Lagos, Rivers, and Ogun states?

“Section 77 of the bill is the main issue. Consumers in Nigeria are not only Yoruba or Lagosians; they are all over the nation. When I drink Pepsi here in Abuja, I have to pay VAT to Lagos – why? If that is the case, then for any food item brought from the North, the VAT on it should be paid to the North.”

“How can you give the impression that one section of the country is better than the other? What about the people from the Niger Delta who produce the oil that everyone is stealing?”
When asked if the legislators would review the bills before passing them, Gobir said, “We are not going to review them; we are going to dump them unless they correct all the abnormalities in the bills.”

On its part, the Northern Elders’ Forum said Tinubu’s declaration that the “tax reform bills are here to stay” undermined the principle of democracy.

The spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against creating tension between the executive and legislative arms of government.

He stated, “President Tinubu’s declaration raises concerns. The potential for bypassing the legislative process, inherent in his strong assertion, undermines the principles of democratic governance.

“By pre-emptively declaring the bills’ passage, the President risks alienating lawmakers and potentially creating unnecessary political friction.”

The League of Northern Democrats also urged the President to avoid rigidity on matters impacting the general welfare of citizens.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Umar Sani, a former spokesman for ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and a founding member of the League, remarked, “We know that the country requires tax reform. One of the reasons for tax reform is to fight corruption.

“Corruption is very high because people don’t pay taxes. If people pay taxes, the rate of corruption will be lower because you know the larger part of the money you steal will go to the government.

“But there are areas we want the government to review, like the inheritance tax, which is against religion, and some other incidentals. There are areas we agree with the bills, and we have given suggestions on areas we don’t agree with. In summary, our position is not against the bills.

“The President has offended the sensibilities of many Nigerians, particularly those of our leaders, with his declaration, and it shows the level of independence of our National Assembly. The President should not be rigid in decision-making.”

On September 3, 2024, President Bola Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.

The proposed reforms are based on recommendations from the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms.

The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, designed to establish a fiscal framework for taxation, and the Tax Administration Bill, which aims to create a clear legal framework for all taxes and minimize disputes.

Additionally, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill seeks to replace the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service.

The Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill proposes the creation of a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

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