The Democratic Front has expressed its support for Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule’s recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued on Friday, signed by its Chairman, Malam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group described Governor Sule’s revised stance as a positive and commendable development.
The TDF noted that Governor Sule’s remarks during an appearance on Arise Television highlighted a significant shift in understanding. According to Sule, the initial resistance from northern state governors to the tax reform bills stemmed from a lack of clarity regarding their contents and objectives.
“This, for us, is a welcome development, especially as it came in the wake of continuous stakeholder engagement by the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, Mr Taiwo Oyedele,” the group stated.
“We, therefore, commend Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is also the chairman of the North Central Governors Forum, for his remarkable show of maturity, understanding and statesmanship in disembarking from his earlier stance against the bills, by openly expressing support for their passage.
“And we also call on all his colleagues in the Northern Governors Forum to join him in encouraging the National Assembly to pass all four tax reform bills without much ado,” the TDF added.
The group reiterated that the tax reform bills were crafted to establish a progressive national tax system that aligns with the economic and political aspirations of Nigerians in a rapidly evolving global economy.
“We salute the courage displayed by the President for encouraging the true spirit of democracy and freedom of expression among Nigerians in the heat of discussions around the tax reform in the wake of the unwarranted controversy.
“We appreciate the continuous efforts, sacrifices and commitment by both the Chairman of the Presidential Committee and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, to enlighten Nigerians on the objectives of the tax reform,” the group stated.
The TDF dismissed claims that the tax reform bills were detrimental to the economic interests of Northern Nigeria or any other region, labelling such assertions as baseless and misleading.
“It is, however, important to posit once again that there is no aspect of the tax reform bills that is prejudicial to the economic interest of Northern Nigeria or any part of the country as argued by mischief makers,” the group said.
Instead, the group explained, the bills would relieve the masses of tax burdens until they attain substantial economic productivity.
“Similarly, when passed into law, the reform bills will leverage all sub-national governments in the country with the capacity to create more jobs and wealth,” it added.
