A House of Representatives member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, from Kano State has been condemned for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s latest Tax Reform Bills.
The Northern Youth Assembly, on Tuesday, made the condemnation in a statement by its spokesperson Mohammed Hussaini Bauchi, adding that they were disappointed in Jibrin who represents Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency.
The lawmaker who was a former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation drew the air of the Assembly when he appeared on a recent TV programme, where he was reported to have out rightly endorsed the “anti-North tax reform bill.”
Bauchi, who claims that the Assembly has branches in the 19 Northern states, said Jibrin’s stance on the issues would further “relegate the region economically and commercially.”
According to the Assembly, Jibrin’s support for the tax reform bill introduced by the Tinubu administration, was a display of disrespect to his constituents, the people of Kano State, and Northern Nigeria as a whole.
Bauchi said, “As representatives of Northern Nigerian youth, we believe that this proposal, in its current form, will disproportionately affect the economic livelihoods and aspirations of our people, without considering the current economic reality in the country.
“While the proposed tax reform may be of significant interest to those at the centre, your unwavering enthusiasm to champion this anti-North bill exposes a misguided commitment to the cause of those you represent.
“It is evident that the North faces a range of critical issues, including an acute shortage of electricity supply, rampant insecurity, severe poverty, unemployment, and a dismal state of infrastructure, to name just a few.
“We believe that these are some of the challenges your constituents suffer from, and the purpose of your election was to address them through effective legislation and advocacy, rather than dedicating your legislative energy to serve an agenda that could further marginalise the Northern Nigerian people, the region from which you come.
“It would be wiser and more beneficial for you to prioritise your efforts towards addressing the disturbing socio-economic challenges ravaging the people of the North. This tax reform, in its current form, threatens to exacerbate the burdens on businesses and families in Northern Nigeria—businesses that are already struggling to survive due to unreliable power, inconsistent policy, lack of Federal Government support, and poor access to essential services.”
