The Northern Elders Forum has reaffirmed its stance against the Federal Government’s Tax Reform Bills, urging for their immediate suspension and advocating for in-depth discussions with stakeholders.
The forum criticized the Federal Government for not involving essential stakeholders and experts prior to drafting the reforms.
In a press release issued on Saturday and signed by its Management Board Chairman, Al-Amin Daggash, the forum highlighted the possible negative impacts of the reforms on Northern Nigeria and the nation at large.
Daggash noted, “It’s important to stress that Nigerians, particularly those from the North, welcome valuable and constructive reforms proposed by federal, state, or local authorities.
“However, drawing from global best practices, effective reforms rely on vital principles of the public policy-making process, which include but are not limited to: engaging extensively with experts and key stakeholders before reforms to gain their support.
“Creating a clear media and communication strategy to effectively convey the full scope of the reforms and to raise public awareness nationwide.
“Establishing a solid, transparent, and inclusive implementation framework.
“Proactively executing a well-structured process to ensure that the reforms produce the intended benefits for society.”
Daggash further stated, “The Northern Elders Forum maintains that the proposed Tax Reform Bills from the Federal Government violate these essential principles of reform and public policy-making, which are widely acknowledged as best practices.”
