Bauchi Forum rejects Tax Reform Bills, urges Senate to demand withdrawal

The Bauchi State Togetherness and Development Forum has rejected the proposed Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly.

This is as the group called on all senators representing the state to advocate for their immediate withdrawal.

The Forum’s Chairman, Abdullahi Koli, made the call during a conference held on Wednesday at the National Commission for Museum and Monument, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Tomb, Bauchi.

Koli who directed his appeal to Bauchi State senators — Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), Shehu Buba (Bauchi South), and Ismail Dahuwa (Bauchi North) —urged them to resist the passage of the bill in the Senate.

Addressing journalists, Koli said, “We, the Bauchi State Togetherness and Development Forum, urgently convey the concerns of our people regarding the proposed Tax Reform Bills submitted to the National Assembly.

“At a time when Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, this legislation threatens to worsen their plight.”

The Forum lamented the deepening hardship in the state and nationwide, attributing it to the removal of subsidies on petroleum products, which has escalated inflation and pushed many families into poverty.

“Many Nigerians, including those in Bauchi State, can no longer afford basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education. This has stifled social mobility, increased insecurity, and endangered lives and property,” Koli explained.

The group criticized the government, expressing concern that new taxes, increased electricity tariffs, and higher transfer fees have already worsened the suffering of citizens, let alone the introduction of additional burdens.

Koli added, “While the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee claims the bill aims to maximize revenue and reduce dependence on oil, it places an unfair burden on an already overtaxed populace. Businesses are shutting down, and foreign investors are fleeing.

“A better approach would be to minimize taxes and focus on reducing unnecessary government expenses.”

He pointed out alternatives, including curbing excessive government spending on the presidential fleet, luxury trips, and non-essential expenditures, as more effective solutions to address revenue challenges.

The Forum also raised concerns about the hasty legislative process surrounding the Tax Reform Bill.

“Experience shows that rushed bills often come with unpleasant consequences,” Koli noted, citing the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which reportedly contained N3 trillion in padded expenses later exposed by Senator Abdul Ningi.

The group called on Bauchi senators to exercise due diligence and stand firm in rejecting the bill to protect their constituents from further economic hardship.