Tinubu Tax Sparks Northern Backlash as Youths Condemn Deputy Senate President

The proposed Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly have sparked widespread anger in northern Nigeria, culminating in a dramatic confrontation yesterday. Northern youths, representing all 19 states in the region, accused Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin of betraying their interests by supporting the contentious bills.

The youths, under the banner of the Northern Youth Assembly, described the proposed reforms as economically damaging to the North. In an open letter signed by the group’s president, Ali Mohammed Idris, and secretary, Abdulhafiz Garba, they expressed outrage over Jibrin’s role in presiding over the Senate session where the bills passed their second reading. They argued that his actions were a glaring disregard for the economic struggles of his constituents in Kano North Senatorial District and the entire northern region.

The Tax Reform Bills, introduced by President Bola Tinubu, aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system by streamlining revenue administration, eliminating double taxation, encouraging private sector investments, and providing targeted tax exemptions to boost disposable incomes. The four bills include the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and Nigeria Tax Bill.

Despite assurances from the executive arm that the reforms would benefit the nation, the bills have faced stiff opposition in the North. Lawmakers and regional leaders argue that the proposals disproportionately disadvantage the region’s socio-economic development. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele called the bills a transformative step for Nigeria’s tax system, but this sentiment has not eased tensions in the North.

The Northern Youth Assembly’s letter minced no words, accusing Jibrin of prioritizing personal and political interests over his constituency’s welfare. They warned that the reforms, if passed, would exacerbate poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment in a region already grappling with insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent power supply.

The letter further criticized Jibrin’s “unwavering enthusiasm” to push the bills despite the objections of northern stakeholders, including the National Economic Advisory Council and northern governors. It labeled him and other supporters as “agents of destruction,” accusing them of disregarding the region’s pressing socio-economic challenges for political gain.

The group vowed to resist the reforms “to the last drop of blood” and warned Jibrin to reconsider his stance. They also hinted at mobilizing public discontent across the North, emphasizing their commitment to exposing what they described as a betrayal of trust.