Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, has rejected the proposed Value Added Tax amendment bill currently at the National Assembly.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that President Bola Tinubu had forwarded the proposed amendments to the legislature for amendment.
But the governors said the amendment was against the interests of the North and other sub-nationals.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria in Kaduna on Monday, the governors called on the lawmakers to reject the proposed bills which, according to them, seeks to amend the distribution of VAT to a derivation-based model.
The governors also asked the federal government to ensure equity and fairness.
The communique partly read: “The forum unanimously rejects the proposed tax amendments and calls on members of the National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people.
‘’The Northern Governors’ Forum is not averse to any policies or programs that will ensure the growth and development of the country.
“However, the Forum calls for equity and fairness in the implementation of all national policies and programs so as to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalised,’’ the communiqué stated.
The forum also called on the “federal government and relevant agencies to urgently address the current electricity power blackout affecting most of the Northern States due to vandalisation of electricity transmission infrastructure.
“This matter not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure but also the need to build additional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply so as to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience,’’ the governors argued.
On the recent “end bad governance” protests that took place in August, the governors argued that it has made the governors “ to scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development, job creation, and pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices.’’
The governors emphasised that traditional institutions are critical in the quest for lasting peace and security in the region, just as they also acknowledged their commitment in bridging the gap between the government and the people.
‘’Forum advocates for increased roles for the traditional institutions to maximise cooperation with security agencies in the fight against kidnap for ransom, banditry, cattle rustling, communal clashes, farmers/herder clashes, and other forms of criminality, the governors said.
The communiqué acknowledged the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders, but resolved that these gains be sustained to ensure lasting peace and stability in the sub-region.
The governors commended the federal government and security agencies for their commitment in ensuring that our communities are safe and secure.
‘’Particularly, we commend the untiring commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff, General C. J. Musa, whose professionalism and innovative approach have made a difference in the security architecture of the country at large. Nevertheless, more needs to be done to address pockets of challenges that abound in the Northern Region,’’ they said.
According to the communique, Northern Nigeria holds immense agricultural potentials, which, if fully harnessed, can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth.
‘’To achieve this, we resolved to provide adequate support to our farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques, and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems.
‘’Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialisation and job creation across the region. That can be achieved through re-industrialisation of the North especially by reviving the textile value chain and development of other agro-allied industries.
‘’Forum commends His Excellency, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the reform initiative in the livestock sub-sector and agreed to provide the necessary political will and commitment to ensure the success of the Federal Government livestock development initiatives.
