Northern Leaders Slam Tinubu’s ‘Dictatorial’ Stance on Tax Reform Bills

Northern leaders have lambasted President Bola Tinubu for his unyielding declaration that the controversial tax reform bills are irreversible, describing his position as authoritarian and dismissive of democratic processes.

The leaders, comprising National Assembly members, the Northern Elders’ Forum, and the League of Northern Democrats, accused Tinubu of bypassing inclusive consultations and imposing the bills on Nigerians without regard for legislative scrutiny or public consensus.

During a media chat in Lagos on Monday, Tinubu admitted the reforms were divisive but insisted they were essential to overhaul Nigeria’s colonial-era tax system. However, critics argued that the President’s approach undermines democracy and fuels regional inequality.

Senator Mohammed Onawo, representing Nasarawa South, decried Tinubu’s interference with legislative independence, labeling his actions as a betrayal of the democratic process. Onawo noted that the President’s refusal to allow due legislative procedures reflects poorly on his legacy as a former lawmaker.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir, a former representative of Sokoto East, accused Tinubu of tribal favoritism, claiming the bills unfairly benefit southern states like Lagos, Rivers, and Ogun at the expense of northern and other regions. Gobir slammed the VAT allocation provisions as exploitative and warned that the legislature would outright reject the bills unless drastic amendments are made.

The Northern Elders’ Forum echoed these sentiments, with spokesman Abdul-Azeez Suleiman warning that Tinubu’s “dictatorial” proclamation threatens democratic governance. Suleiman accused the President of fostering unnecessary political tension by preemptively declaring the bills untouchable.

Umar Sani, a pioneer member of the League of Northern Democrats, accused Tinubu of alienating Nigerians with his rigid stance. While acknowledging the need for tax reforms, Sani condemned provisions like the inheritance tax, which he argued contravenes religious and cultural values.

The tax reform bills, introduced in September, were proposed by the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms. They include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and related legislation aimed at modernizing the country’s tax administration. Despite Tinubu’s justifications, the Northern leaders’ scathing criticism highlights mounting opposition to what many see as an autocratic and self-serving move by the President.