Northern Group Supports Nasarawa Governor’s Stand on Tax Reform Bills

• The Arewa Think Tank supports Governor Abdullahi Sule’s endorsement of President Tinubu’s tax reform bills, viewing it as a positive development
• ATT criticized opponents of the tax reforms, stating they hinder Northern progress and urged unity among Northern governors for support

The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has supported Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule’s recent shift in favour of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by the group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, ATT described the governor’s new position as a positive development aligned with their advocacy for Northern progress.

“We have discovered that those opposing the Tinubu tax reform bills are not just targeting the President; they are hindering efforts to liberate the North from the grip of a few elites,” the statement read.

“The North must make progress in the 21st century. The majority must prevail over those elites who want to keep us stagnant.”

The group expressed satisfaction with Governor Sule’s remarks on a televised program, where he acknowledged that initial opposition from Northern governors was due to a lack of clarity about the bill’s contents.

The ATT praised his maturity and leadership in supporting the bill’s passage and urged other Northern governors to follow suit.

“Governor Sule’s decision demonstrates statesmanship, and we commend his shift towards supporting the reform bills,” the statement added. “We urge all Northern Governors to rally behind him and encourage swift passage by the National Assembly.”

ATT further lauded the continuous efforts by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, and Zach Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for their public engagement on the bill’s objectives.

“There is no provision in the reform bills that undermines Northern Nigeria’s economic interests,” ATT clarified. “Instead, they aim to exempt lower-income citizens from tax obligations until they achieve significant economic productivity and empower sub-national governments to generate jobs and wealth.”

The group emphasized its commitment to enlightening the region about the reform’s benefits and countering misinformation, stating that the reform would spur innovation and economic growth in the North.

They urged political and traditional leaders to support the reform bills without delay.