A coalition of northern civil society organizations has endorsed the tax reform bills pending before the National Assembly.
They also warned some unscrupulous elements that are using President Bola Tinubu’s broad-based reforms to score cheap political goals ahead of 2027 elections.
The endorsement was announced in a communique issued at the end of a one-day engagement with CSOs, students, youths and community-based groups held at Arewa House Kaduna on Thursday.
The engagement was organized by the trio of First Project Initiative, Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative and Coalition of Northern Nigeria Students Forum.
The participants urged caution and restraint in the ongoing debate over the tax reform bills, advising the public to disregard divisive rhetoric propagated by agents of discord seeking to exploit this issue for political gain.
“Northerners are encouraged to actively participate in the upcoming public hearings on the tax bills. Citizens should present their views constructively and engage lawmakers through established democratic channels, as advised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the communique said.
The CSOs said Northern states should diversify their revenue sources to reduce dependence on federal allocations. State governors and leaders should prioritize agricultural development, leveraging the region’s potential in value chains such as cotton and groundnuts to boost productivity.
“Northern states should capitalize on federal government policies on solid minerals and livestock development to generate income, employment, and revenue,” the communique signed by Hamza Umar Saulawa, Coordinator,
Nigeria First Project Initiative;
Bishir Dauda, National Secretary, Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative; and Sadi Garba Sadiq, Coordinator, Coalition of Northern Nigerian Students Forum, said.
The participants commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiatives such as the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development, appointing a Northerner to head the ministry, creating the Northwest Development Commission, championing local government autonomy, and introducing a student loan scheme.
The CSOs also urged Nigerians, particularly Northerners, to be wary of political actors using the tax reform debate as a platform to advance their ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
