The Presidency has urged Nigerians to desist from the use of ethnic or regional slurs while commenting on the proposed tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

President Bola Tinubu cautioned against the use of ethnic or regional slurs that could inflame tensions.

He stressed that the tax reform bills are designed to benefit all Nigerians irrespective of region or ethnicity.

Idris, described the proposed tax reform bills as pivotal to ensuring financial autonomy for states and local governments while addressing long-standing issues of resource allocation.

He said, “I call on all commentators and groups to keep up the spirit of informed engagement, and to strive to be respectful and understanding at all times despite the diversity of opinions. In the spirit of democratic engagement, there should be no room for name-calling, or for the injection of unnecessary ethnic and regional slurs into this important national conversation.

“Similarly, it is important to be aware that there is a lot of misinformation and fake news circulating around the tax bills and the overall reform agenda of the Tinubu Administration. The fiscal reforms will not impoverish any State or region of the country, neither will they lead to the scrapping or weakening of any federal agencies.” 

Idris added, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing an ambitious fiscal reform agenda that will devolve more resources to Nigeria’s State and Local Governments, and ultimately to the Nigerian people, in the spirif of harnessing democracy that works for the people.

“It is pertinent to state that the government has nothing sinister to warrant the suggestion that the process is being rushed. In line with the established legislative procedure, the Federal Government welcomes meaningful inputs that can address whatever grey areas there may be in the bill.”

The minister revealed that the president has directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to work with the National Assembly to address concerns being raised by Nigerians before the bills are passed.

The statement further reads, “We are indeed witnessing, at this moment in the history of Nigeria, the most far-reaching, impactful and beneficial set of fiscal reforms that Nigeria has seen in decades.

“In addition to the four tax bills being debated and deliberated upon, there is also the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on financial autonomy for local governments, which will significantly empower the tier of government that is closest to the Nigerian people.

“In all, these reforms will not only facilitate increased revenues (without imposing additional tax burdens on the people), they will also make it possible for citizens to demand and enjoy greater accountability in the management of public resources at all levels of government.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the recovery of 32 additional bodies from the boat mishap that occurred on the River Niger, bringing the total number of fatalities to 54.

Justin Uwazuruonye, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Abuja office, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, highlighting the collaborative efforts of emergency responders in the ongoing search and rescue operations.

The tragic incident took place on Thursday, November 28, when a boat carrying around 200 traders from Niger and Kogi States capsized while en route to a weekly market in Katchia, Niger State.
The traders were heading to the market when the boat overturned on the river.

“As of today (Saturday), the number of bodies recovered by the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, and NEMA stands at 54,” Uwazuruonye confirmed, adding that all recovered victims were found deceased.

Authorities continue to search for more victims as the nation mourns the devastating loss. The incident has raised concerns about waterway safety, especially for traders who frequently travel by boat to conduct business in rural communities.
(nationalupdate.ng)

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised a stark warning about the proposed tax reform bills, insisting that they could cripple the Northern region and other parts of Nigeria.
The Governors position is coming in the same vein as that of Senator Ali Ndume who is representing Borno South in the Senate who had urged that the bills be withdrawn for proper consultation in order to get the buy-in of the critical stakeholders who are opposed to it.
Senator Ndume had expressed concern about the timing, suggesting that introducing tax reforms in the current climate could be misconstrued by the public.
He had urged the Senate to consider the sensitivities of the moment, advocating for a more strategic approach to avoid backlash.
Ndume echoed calls for the bills to be withdrawn temporarily to allow for more consultation with state governors, the National Economic Council (NEC), and traditional rulers.
He emphasized that the reforms would be more effective if they had the buy-in of these critical stakeholders, suggesting that swift passage could occur after such consultations.
He identified derivation and VAT as contentious issues arguing that without constitutional amendments, implementing some of the proposals would be problematic.
In a passionate interview with BBC Hausa, Zulum criticized the rapid pace at which the bills are moving through the National Assembly, likening the process to the slow passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, which took nearly two decades.

“Why the rush?” Zulum questioned. “The Petroleum Industry Bill took almost 20 years to pass, yet this tax reform bill is being fast-tracked in just a week. It deserves more careful consideration.”

The governor accused the proposed legislation of being inherently biased, warning that it could significantly hinder the development of the North, as well as the South East and parts of the South West.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the bills, stressing that the North’s strong support for his administration should not be overlooked.

“This is not opposition to the government,” Zulum clarified. “But these bills will destroy the North. President Tinubu must act as he secured 60% of his votes from the North, and we cannot afford to be left behind.”

Zulum also pointed out that if passed, the bills could severely impact the ability of Northern states to fund critical development projects and pay civil servants’ salaries.
He added that even Lagos State, often considered a strong ally of the federal government, is opposing the reform.

“If these bills are enacted, we will struggle to pay salaries, and any payments we make will be unsustainable,” Zulum warned.
“This is a national concern, with members from across the country, including the South, opposing it.”

The governor concluded that the North’s opposition to the tax reform is not an attack on the administration but a call for a reconsideration of the bills’ potential damage. “We supported President Tinubu, but these bills will not help us,” he said.

As the Senate continued to review the tax reform bills, which include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and other associated legislation, Zulum’s comments highlighted the growing regional divide over the proposed fiscal changes, raising concerns over their long-term impact on Nigeria’s development.