By Abubakar Yunusa
The Leadership of the North Central Citizens Council (NCCC), has thrown support behind the Bauchi State Governor, Governor Bala Mohammed on the continuous debate about the Tax Reform Bills.
The group made the statement on Tuesday in a press release showing solidarity to the statement made by the Governor on the need for the president to withdraw the bill as the North may be forced to “show its true color”.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator of the organization Comrade Mohammed Eneji, said that the Leadership of the North Central Citizens Council (NCCC) wished to throw total support to the statement credited to the Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed on the controversial Tax Reform Bills.
The statement was neither confrontational nor controversial as it speaks clearly the minds of an average northerner. It is important to the State categorically that northern Nigeria, especially the North Central also share the same sentiment on the bills. The economy is already in a mess, and northerners are the most hit in all the anti masses policies of president Tinubu.
We hereby show our solidarity and support to His Excellency , Governor Bala from the North Central Zone.These tax reforms are anti-people. The government cannot continue to borrow with nothing to show. This is the position of our council.
Governor Bala has the right to speak for his people as a Governor who forms a subnational under the Tinubu led government, as such deserves to be heard. Instead of Sunday Dare calling Governor Bala ‘s comments as a threat, the government should rather listen to the voice of reasoning which is the voice of the general North
We from the North Central Zone advise the Presidency to heed to the warning of the Governor as frustration continues to mount of average citizens due to the current harsh economic situation, the North may be forced to withdraw their support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if policies such as the Tax Reform Bills which is directly targeted on further plunging the region into abject poverty and under development sees the light of the day. We are going to canvas the entire region starting from our zone against Tinubu in the next election if these kinds of shenanigans continue.
This government has no empathy for the common man. These draconic policies will help the country as it will continue to enrich Lagos and other very few states, no state in the North Central stands a chance of benefiting from the proceeds of these bills, as such we are totally against the Tax Reform Bills.
What the region are asking from the president are as follows :
Provide us with adequate security for our farmers to assess their farmlands. This will boost agriculture and provide food for the citizens and for export.
Revive the Ajaokuta Steel company to full capacity, develop other Solid mineral resources in the entire northern region
Open all our land borders so that the region can be open for business again. Develop all our sea and dry ports and so on.
If all of the above is put into consideration, then the region may be ready to accept any form of reform about our tax system and the government will be seen as being just to all regions in Nigeria. Comrade Mohammed added.
