by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A northern “good governance” advocacy group, ‘Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative,’ has rejected the Federal Government’s Tax Reform Bill currently before the National Assembly.
“Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative is a non-political, non-tribal and non-religious youth movement that aims at uniting and protecting the interests of the North. It is a pressure group that promotes good governance, unity, progress and development of northern Nigeria,” the body said.
In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna today, Director-General of the Group, Dr Abdullahi Idris, PhD, said, having studied the controversial bill thoroughly, his group has come to the conclusion that, though there are aspects of it that may be beneficial, sections – especially those that deal with the distribution of VAT revenue – are unfair and will lead to economic adversity for the North.
He, therefore, called on the Tinubu Administration to withdraw it with immediate effect.
While expressing wonders why there was no enough consultations before the bill was presented to the National Assembly, Dr Idris called on members of the National Assembly, especially those from the north, not to endorse it, lest they incur the wrath of their people.
He recalled that the bill was presented for passage into law at its current form against the advice of many well-meaning Nigerians, including the National Economic Council, because of its potential to benefit some sections of the country to the detriment of other sections.
Dr Idris finally called on the Federal Government to withdraw the bill and allow for “more, thorough scrutiny and wider consultations” before it is reintroduced to the National Assembly for passage into law.