Sani Shinkafi: Governors saying tax bills will cause hardship are responsible for poverty in north

Sani Shinkafi, executive director of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), has criticised the state governors who are opposing the proposed tax reforms.

On October 3, President Bola Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.

On October 28, the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) opposed the bills, arguing that the proposed legislation would harm the region’s interests.

The governors asked the national assembly to reject the bills, demanding an equitable and fair implementation of national policies and programmes across all regions.

Speaking on Monday during an interview with Arise News, Shinkafi said all the controversies around the bills can be avoided if carefully handled.

He added that most of the governors who have rejected the proposed legislation have not deeply gone into the details of the bills.

“If they had gone deeply into it, they would not be crying foul play,” he said.

“The governors saying the bills will increase hardship are responsible for the economic failure, insecurity, chronic unemployment, acute poverty, and educational backwardness in the northern region.

“When the president withdrew the fuel subsidy, which of the northern governors complained loudly? When the electricity tariff was being increased, which of the governors cried loudly? The leaders of today are power-drunk.

“Because of how the money will be shared based on your performance and contribution, that is why they are complaining.

“Most of these states are lazy; most of them are not ready to develop their state to generate revenue; that is why they are complaining.”

Shinkafi also reacted to the criticism of the bills by the Northern Youth Assembly, noting that the remarks were politically motivated and uncalled for.

“The attack by the Northern Youth Assembly is uncalled for because the deputy senate president was doing his duties,” he said.

“Some of these youths were misinformed, and all the attacks, blackmail, and mischief-making are politically motivated against the deputy senate president.

“There is no issue of insensitivity against the northern region.”