Tinubu’s tax bills invitation to anarchy, says Bala Mohammed

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, says President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills are tantamount to “calls for anarchy”.

Channels Television reports that the governor spoke in Bauchi at an event to commemorate the Christmas festivities.

Mohammed, who is chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ forum, said the bills are skewed to favour one region of the country.

“To the tax reforms — it is not a good policy for northern Nigeria because we are not going to get money to pay you salaries,” he said.

“They must listen, otherwise, they are calling for anarchy and that is not good. We voted for the president in the state and other states.

“They must listen to us! They must not come up with a policy that favours only one state in the country.

“It is not about religion. It is not about tribe. It is about national unity. It is about national hegemony.

“We are all about good leadership, and we will continue to urge them for the time being. But if the situation persists, they will see our real colour.

“We are going to fight for it.”

On October 3, Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass the bills.

The legislations comprise the Nigeria tax bill, Nigeria tax administration bill, Nigeria Revenue Service establishment bill, and the Joint Revenue Board establishment bill.

One of the legislations proposing a new valued added tax (VAT) sharing formula for the federation has been vehemently rejected, especially by northern stakeholders.

During his first presidential media chat, Tinubu insisted that the tax reform bills have come to stay.

The president said the reforms were initiated to “eliminate colonial-based assumptions” in the country’s tax environment.

He added that the country cannot deploy old methods to combat current economic challenges.