On Friday, November 29, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State announced that the northern part of Nigeria will not support President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills, which are currently before the National Assembly.
In an interview with BBC News Hausa, shared on X, Zulum made it clear that the North strongly opposes the proposed legislation, arguing it would have negative effects on the region and the country as a whole.
Zulum warned that the tax reforms could lead to serious problems, including economic decline, hunger, poverty, and insecurity, particularly in the northern states. “Our concern is that if this bill is passed, it will create problems that we won’t be able to fix,” he said. “If we pay once, the next year, it will become trouble because we won’t be able to pay again.”
He also questioned why the National Assembly was rushing to pass the bill, noting the long delay of the Petroleum Bill, and expressed concerns about the affordability and sustainability of the proposed tax reforms. “Let’s not create problems and leave them behind for our future generations,” Zulum cautioned.
The governor pointed out that other regions, including Lagos State, have also expressed worries about the bill, which suggests the concerns span beyond just the North. He urged President Tinubu to consider the North’s concerns, reminding him of the region’s significant role in securing his presidential victory, with nearly 60 percent of the votes.
“We believe this bill, if passed, will completely harm the North,” Zulum declared. He added that the bill would also negatively impact the Eastern, Western, and South-South regions. States like Oyo, Ekiti, and Ondo, along with Lagos, could face economic setbacks, he explained.
Zulum appealed to the National Assembly members, urging them not to betray their constituents by passing the bill. He emphasized that opposing the bill was not about opposing the government, but about protecting regional interests. “We should all be careful,” Zulum said. “We have families, children, and communities to think about.”
The governor concluded, stating that the northern governors had already met and agreed to oppose the bill together. “The President should stop listening to rumors that those from the North hate him. We voted for him, and this tax issue will not change that,” he insisted.
The Presidency, however, has defended the tax reforms, with Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explaining that the bills were meant to improve the lives of Nigerians and were not intended to harm any particular region.
