Speaking during a Christmas homage from the Christian community at the Government House yesterday, Governor Mohammed cautioned the federal government against being dismissive or indifferent to the concerns raised. He stated that the Tax Reform Bills fail to address the unique economic challenges faced by the Northern states and, if implemented, could exacerbate poverty levels in the region.
“The situation was not like this before, and that is why the presidency must be open to revising the tax reforms,” he said. “It is not a good policy for the Northern states.”
The proposed bills aim to review the formula by which the federal government allocates revenue generated from value-added tax (VAT) among states. The reforms also seek to increase VAT rates—a move that economic experts have criticized as likely to worsen the economic hardship already being experienced by many Nigerians.
Governor Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, expressed concern over the rising difficulties faced by citizens. He remarked, “There is a lot of wahala; there is a lot of hunger, and we need to pray to God to eliminate it. We have to speak out, but that does not mean we are insulting anyone.”
He called on the presidency and the federal government to adopt a more inclusive approach in policy-making, adding, “Whenever a policy is not popular, they should not be dismissive or stubborn in their approach.”