From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) Kaduna State Chapter, in collaboration with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and critical stakeholders, has called for the relocation of bank and telecommunication companies’ headquarters to Abuja to ensure equitable distribution of benefits.
This was contained in a communique issued after a town hall meeting with stakeholders at Arewa House, Kaduna, yesterday to discuss the theme: “Tax Reform Bills: A Catalyst for Economic Growth or a Burden on the People?”
The communique signed by Comrade Muhammed Sanusi Ali on behalf of 134 said, “it Is unjust for banks and telecommunication companies’ to situate their headquarters in certain states and allow those states to disproportionately benefit at the expense of contributions from other regions when the Federal Ministries of Finance, Information, and Communications, as well as parastatals like Nigeria Communication Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria, have their Head offices in Abuja.
“It is unjust for banks and telecommunication companies’ to situate their headquarters in certain states and allow those states to disproportionately benefit at the expense of contributions from other regions when the Federal Ministries of Finance, Information, and Communications, as well as parastatals like Nigeria Communication Commission Central Bank of Nigeria, has their Head offices in Abuja.
The Coalition observed that Abuja, as the Federal Capital of Nigeria, has historically been a peaceful and neutral territory free from ethnic or religious tensions and, therefore, urged all Northern Governors, business leaders, and organizations to exclusively engage banks that comply with this recommendation in all financial transactions.
“Therefore, the town hall recommends that all banks and Telecommunication companies relocate their corporate headquarters to Abuja and remit their revenues directly to the Federal Government to ensure equitable distribution of benefits.”
