The Northern Elders’ From (NEF) has rejected the Tax Reform Bill, describing it as “conceived in bad faith”, and a threat to national cohesion.

 

The group in a communique after its Saturday’s Board of Trustees meeting, issued by its Convener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, lamented the manner of its implementation, believing that the key stakeholders, including members of the National Economic Council, were sidelined during the process.

 

NEF warned against dubious policies that could further marginalise the North’s resource potential.

It lauded the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers for opposing the bill, describing their stance as “patriotic” and urged the Northern politicians in the National Assembly to speak out against it.

 

The meeting maintained that in its present form, the Tax Reform Bill is conceived in bad faith, poorly packaged and “a palpable threat to our unity and national cohesion”.

 

According to the communique, “The meeting proceeded by drawing attention to the brazen cavalier way and suspicious manner in which the Tax Reform Bill was imposed on the nation, without allowing the in-puts of critical stakeholders, even as it kept members of the National Economic Council in the dark, thus; confirming the sinister intentions of those promoting this outrageous Bill.”

 

The Board-in-session, according to the communique, condemned in very strong terms, the conspicuous loss of voice on the burning issue by the overwhelming number of elected politicians in the National Assembly from the region.

It warned that the days are fast gone when such conspiratorial connivance against the vital and strategic interest of the region, either by those within or outside the region, would be condoned.

 

The forum appealed to Northerners to remain vigilant in defending their rights, particularly during elections, and warned against falling victim to manipulation by unscrupulous leaders with questionable records.