- Proper Consultation: Engage in meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including the National Assembly and the general public.
- Transparency and Accountability: Ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of tax revenue.
- Addressing Existing Imbalance: Address the existing imbalance in resource distribution and infrastructure development across the country.
- Decentralizing Federal Structure: Decentralize the federal structure to force states to become more productive and self-sufficient.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed concerns over the proposed tax reforms bill, citing the need for proper consultation and transparency to gain public support. According to Alhaji Shettima Yerima, President of AYCF, the government’s approach to the bill has been flawed, leading to widespread opposition in the north ¹.
Yerima emphasized that the tax reform bills should not be politicized, and the government should engage in meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including the National Assembly and the general public. He also highlighted the importance of addressing the existing imbalance in resource distribution and infrastructure development across the country.
Furthermore, Yerima criticized some state governors for their lack of creativity and initiative in generating revenue within their states. He argued that decentralizing the federal structure would force states to become more productive and self-sufficient, ultimately benefiting the entire country.
The northern region’s dissatisfaction with the tax reforms bill is also linked to the high expectations from the Tinubu-led government. Yerima noted that the people are disappointed because they are not getting what they expected from the government, particularly in addressing insecurity and economic hardship.
