The Northern Governors Forum has kicked against the proposed Tax Reform Bill that was forwarded to the National Assembly.
It stated that the proposed tax bill is against the interests of the North and other sub-nationals.
In a communique read by the chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe state, Mohammed Yahaya, the governors frowned at the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Derivation-based Model.
The “Forum notes with dismay the content of the recent Tax Reform Bill that was forwarded to the National Assembly. The contents of the Blare against the interests of the North and other sub-nationals especially the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to a Derivation-based Model”.
The forum therefore called on members of the National Assembly to oppose the bill that can jeopardise the well-being of their people.
“This is because companies remit VAT using the location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed. In view of the foregoing, the Forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and calls on members of the National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people,” the governors said.
It also demanded equity and fairness in the implementation of all Federal Government programmes and policies
The governors called for “equity and farness in the implementation of all national policies and programmes so as to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalised”.
