Breaking: Major Opposition Forms Against New Tax and Telecom Rules

It stressed the need for equitable, inclusive, and people-centred reforms that prioritise sustainable development and the well-being of all Nigerians.

The proposed tax reform bills that President Bola Tinubu sent to the National Assembly for legislative approval have been rejected by the Coalition of Northern Groups and civil society organizations, who claim that the bill and other related policies will worsen economic hardship, marginalize regions, and threaten national unity.

The groups emphasized the need for fair, inclusive, and people-centered changes that put sustainable development and the welfare of all Nigerians first while speaking during a town hall meeting in Kaduna on Thursday.

"Tax Reform Bills: A Catalyst for Economic Growth or a Burden on the People?" was the topic of lively discussions at the town hall meeting.

To discuss the ramifications of the proposed tax reform laws, it brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including academics, civil society actors, community leaders, youth organizations, and concerned people.

Due to the implementation of certain economic policies by the President Bola Tinubu administration, participants voiced serious concerns about the reforms' possible socioeconomic effects, emphasizing the significant burden they might place on already struggling northern businesses and citizens.

Salisu Nuhu, the deputy director general of the Northern Elders Forum, bemoaned in his statement that many Nigerians' quality of life has been declining since the President Bola Tinubu administration implemented certain economic policies, such as the elimination of gasoline subsidies, an increase in electricity rates, and the devaluation of the Naira, among others.

We all understand that taxes are a necessary part of being a member of a civilized society. However, whether taxes are a burden on our citizens or a driver of economic progress depends on the framework in which we collect and use these resources," he stated.

"The National Economic Council, the Northern Governors' Forum, the South East Caucus of the Senate, religious leaders, NGOs, CSOs, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and many others have opposed the proposed Tax Reform Bills."

The National Coordinator of Coalition of Northern organizations, Jamilu Charanchi, stated that the proposed tax reform measures, rather from being accelerators for economic growth, will aggravate the present economic issues facing the North and Nigeria as a whole.

He agued that the policies are likely to deepen poverty, raise unemployment, and strangle small firms already suffering with economic difficulty.

Charanchi noted that there were concerns regarding the changes' intentions because they seemed to unfairly single out Northern Nigeria.

"A large portion of the economic burden would fall on the region, which is already lagging in economic development, further marginalizing its population," he stated.
Additionally, he criticized the Federal Government's proposed increase in telecommunications tariffs, promising that the North will fiercely resist the idea.