By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has expressed support for the revised Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing formula proposed by the Nigeria Governor’s Forum.
Briefing newsmen in Bauchi on Friday, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, National Coordinator of the CNG expressed the readiness of the group to continue to challenge some of the contentious parts of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly.
“We are here to express our position on the development about the ongoing discussions surrounding Nigeria’s tax reforms and the recently proposed VAT sharing formula”, the group said.
Comrade Charanchi said over the past few weeks, they have been traversing Northern Nigeria to engage with the people, civil society organisations and other stakeholders through town hall meetings about the controversial bills.
The Students Wing of the CNG had earlier protested across the states while the state chapters of the Coalition have been engaging stakeholders in their domain
According to him, the Students Wing of the CNG had earlier protested across the states while the state chapters of the Coalition have been engaging stakeholders in their domain as part of efforts to engage with Nigerians and galvanise action to address the adverse effects of the reforms that are anti people.
CNG which stressed continued engagement with stakeholders across the 19 northern states, explained that the engagements are aimed to sensitize Nigerians on the bills and gather feedback from stakeholders and work on how best to address them collectively.
The revised formula of 50% based on equality, 30% on derivation, and 20% on population is a welcome departure from the earlier, lopsided proposal of 20% on equality, 20% on population, and 60% on derivation
While commending the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) for their doggedness in championing a more equitable VAT sharing formula, CNG noted that the revised formula of 50% based on equality, 30% on derivation, and 20% on population is a welcome departure from the earlier, lopsided proposal of 20% on equality, 20% on population, and 60% on derivation.
He further applauded the governors who he said have collectively done extremely well in reversing the imposed formular to a more acceptable win-win VAT formula among the three tiers of government.
The group opined that the adjustment will foster unity and fairness, ensuring no region is left behind in Nigeria’s development trajectory.
It observed that while people celebrate the revised VAT formula, there are other controversial issues in the bills that must be tackled with all seriousness.
“The CNG, however, remains deeply concerned about such controversial aspects that pose severe implications for ordinary Nigerians”, the CNG noted.
