Northern youths chide Kano Rep for endorsing Tinubu’s Tax Bill
The Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa), has chided Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa (APC-Kano) for endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reforms Bill.
The group said this in an open letter to Jibrin, who represents Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives signed by its National Assistant Publicity Secretary,Comrade Mohammed Bauchi on Tuesday.
“The Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa), on behalf of the 19 Northern States leadership of the Assembly, wishes to express our unequivocal disappointment in you, following a recent TV interview you granted, and outrightly endorsed the evil plan to undermine the North, and further relegate the region economically and commercially.
“Your shameful act of publicly supporting the proposed tax reform bill put forth by the Tinubu administration, is the highest order of disrespect to your constituents, Kano State people and the entire Northern Nigeria.
“As a representatives of the Northern Nigerian youth, we believe that this proposal, in its current form, will disproportionately affect the economic livelihoods and aspirations of our people, without taking into cognisance the current economic reality in the country.
“While the proposed tax reform may be of so much interest to the people at the centre, however, your unwavering enthusiasm to champion the bill, that is clearly anti-North, exposes your misguided commitment to the course of protecting the interest of those you represent.
“It is very practical that the North faces a barrage of critical issues such as: acute shortage of electricity supply, rampant insecurity across the region, naked poverty, unemployment and a dismal state of infrastructure, to name just a few,” Bauchi said.
He added:“It is our belief that these are some of the challenges your constituents suffer from, and the purpose of your election was to fundamentally champion the course to address them through effective legislation and advocacy, rather than dedicating your legislative energy to serve some agenda that could further marginalize the Northern Nigerian people, the region where you come from.
“It would be wiser and more beneficial for you to prioritize your focus towards championing the course to alleviating the pressing socio-economic challenges ravaging the people in the North.
“This tax reform, in its current form, threatens to exacerbate the burdens of businesses and families in Northern Nigeria—businesses that are already struggling to survive due to unreliable power, inconsistent policy, Federal Government support and poor access to essential services.
“Northern Nigerian requires leaders who could speak in the interest of the region, and who wouldn’t do everything to misguide and deceive their people for some cheap political gains.”
He described the Bill as evil saying that it was the reason why, the National Economic Advisory Council, rejected it in the first place.
Questioning the rationality for the lawmaker’s endorsement of the bill.
