Northern groups and 134 civil society organisations (CSOs) have rejected President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills. They called for the immediate withdrawal of the reforms, describing them as harmful to Nigeria’s socioeconomic stability, especially in the North.
During a town hall meeting in Gombe on Monday, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) warned about the potential damage. Comrade Muhammed Sanusi Ali, who signed the communique, said the reforms would worsen poverty and increase financial burdens on citizens and businesses. He added that the changes would marginalise the North further.
The participants criticised the proposed amendment to the Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution formula. They said it unfairly favours some regions while putting the North at a disadvantage. This imbalance, they argued, could deepen regional inequalities.
The planned defunding of key agencies also sparked outrage. These include TETFUND, NITDA, and NASENI, which drive development in education, technology, and innovation. Stakeholders warned that cutting funding to these bodies would harm the North’s economy and weaken its competitiveness nationally.
Ambiguous language in the proposed reforms raised further concerns. Terms like “derivation,” “family wealth,” and “ecclesiastic” were flagged as unclear. Critics said such vagueness could lead to arbitrary enforcement and policy confusion.
The communique urged Northern lawmakers to block the bills. It demanded inclusive consultations to create tax reforms that address the realities of all Nigerians. The coalition warned that failure to act could destabilise the North and worsen economic disparities.
The Federal Government has not responded to the demands. However, the strong opposition signals growing resistance to the reforms.