A coalition known as the Forum for Growth and Development of Arewa (FGDA) has criticized the support from some northerners for the recent tax reform initiative and has threatened to stage a protest on Wednesday against what it described as “Anti-North Bills.”
The group stated that the planned protest aims to send a strong message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, expressing their rejection of the proposed tax reforms.
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According to the coalition, “President Bola Tinubu has transmitted the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Bill to the Senate. The proposed legislation is aimed at streamlining tax collection, ensuring compliance, and optimizing revenue.”
In a statement signed by its Convener, Jibrin Mohammed, the FGDA expressed concerns over the potential impact of the tax reforms on the northern region. “We have consulted widely and carried out investigations about the proposed tax reform bills and discovered that the implementation would relatively affect and relegate the northern region economically and commercially,” the statement read.
The coalition criticized the endorsement of the bill, arguing that it fails to consider the development gap between the South and the North. “We therefore submit that the tax reform will disproportionately affect the economic livelihoods and aspirations of our people, especially considering the current harsh economic reality in the country,” the group stated.
While acknowledging possible benefits of the reform for the southern region, the coalition emphasized the dire situation in the North. “In backing this anti-North bill, remember that an average Northerner is suffering now and cannot afford to be dragged beyond this point of extreme poverty,” it noted.
Highlighting issues such as insecurity, severe poverty, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure in the region, the group warned against policies that could worsen these challenges. “We are therefore calling on our youths and citizens from the region to join us in stopping further action on the tax reform bills,” the coalition urged.
