Tax Reform: Northern elders seek dialogue, want bill suspended

The Northern Elders Forum has called for immediate suspension of the controversial Tax Bill Reform Bill being proposed by President Bola Tinubu.

In a press statement released on Saturday and signed by its Management Board Chairman, Al-Amin Daggash, the forum maintained its stand on the bill and berated the federal government for its failure to seek experts’ opinions before drafting the controversial bill.

The forum warned that the bill is strategically drafted to cripple the economy of the country as a whole, stressing that the body is prepared to dialogue with the President on the way forward.
“It is necessary to say that Nigerians in general, and Northerners in particular, are not opposed to good and meaningful reforms initiated by authorities at the federal, state, or local government levels.

“However, based on global best practices, successful reforms are anchored on certain key principles of the public policy-making process, which include but are not limited to the following, “Extensive pre-reform engagements with experts and critical stakeholders to secure their buy-in,” Daggash stated.

The forum urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a media and communication strategy to clearly explain the full scope of the reforms and ensure public awareness and enlightenment.

“The government must establish a well-defined media and communication strategy to clearly articulate the full scope of the reforms and ensure public awareness and enlightenment on a nationwide scale,” he said

Daggash stressed that the proposed Tax Reform Bills breach these key principles of reform and public policy-making, which are globally recognised as best practices.