We Made Him President’: Gov Sule Responds to Northern Opposition on Tinubu’s Tax Bill

Amid growing Northern resistance to the tax reform bill, Governor Sule remarks on the region’s role in Tinubu’s rise to the presidency, calling for unity.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule stated that the governors of Northern States cannot oppose President Bola Tinubu because they were instrumental in bringing him to office.

stated that Northern governors opposed the recent tax reform bill submitted to the National Assembly by the Tinubu administration.

On Monday, the governors expressed their position through a communiqué issued by Muhammadu Inuwa, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State.

Remember that on October 3, 2024, Tinubu submitted a tax reform bill to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for approval.

The bill includes reforms within the sector, such as renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

READ ALSO: New Bill Requires Tax ID for Opening Bank Accounts

The new tax legislation proposal aims to offer Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions for oil and gas exports, crude petroleum oil, feed gas used in all processed gases, and goods bought for humanitarian projects funded by donors.

At a meeting held on Monday at Government House in Kaduna, the Governors and Traditional Rulers Council of the Northern States called upon the National Assembly to “oppose any bill that could jeopardize the well-being of our people.”

During an interview on Channels Television, Sule shared his thoughts on the controversial VAT bill that has created tension between the northern region and Tinubu.

We cannot endorse President Tinubu just to later oppose him, especially since the North strongly supported his election.

We chose a specific item from that bill related to VAT. There’s no opposition to anything; we’re focusing on the VAT distribution formula. We have the right to either agree or disagree with it.

“We clearly stated that we want an equitable distribution of the VAT. Continuing with the current approach would be unfair to some states in the South.”