By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Christian leaders in northern Nigeria have declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reform initiative, urging followers to gain a deeper understanding of its benefits for the region in particular and Nigeria generally.
The resolution was made during a town hall meeting held on Thursday by the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) in Kaduna,under the theme ‘The Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising’.
The meeting, which started in the morning, lasted almost till into the night.
Speaking during the event, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, delivered a scathing criticism of Northern leaders, accusing them of neglecting the region’s development despite decades of political dominance in the country.
Dogara emphasized the importance of understanding the proposed tax reform, calling for honest discourse on the issues facing the North.
The Tax Reform Bill, presently in the National Assembly, has several strands to it, but one of the areas found distasteful by Northern State governors and stakeholders is on the sharing of Value Added Tax (VAT).
The proposed legislation seems that 60% of VAT revenue be allocated to the state where goods and services were consumed, 20% distributed based on population, and the remaining 20% equally shared among all states a marked departure from the current system where revenue is distributed based on where companies remit taxes (often in states with a high concentration of corporate headquarters like Lagos and Rivers).
Federal Government defended the proposal on the grounds that it aims to ensure fairness by emphasizing consumption patterns.
Northern leaders’ reaction is on what, they argued, unfairly shifts a larger share of the revenue to southern states.
However, Northern Christian leaders apparently do not buy into this, pointing instead to deeper issues within the region itself.
Dogara said: “Our problem in the North is not about VAT allocations or political appointments. The North has controlled the presidency for over 40 years, with key positions in the Senate, House of Representatives, and NNPC, yet the region remains underdeveloped.”
He alleged that much of the North’s allocated resources were mismanaged, highlighting that funds meant for hospitals, schools, and infrastructure often end up squandered or spent abroad.
“Instead of addressing our challenges, many of our leaders prioritize personal gain. If this continues, no amount of leadership or resources will change our circumstances,” Dogara warned.
Defending the tax reform, Dogara stressed that it a crucial step for economic growth, explaining that it aims to simplify Nigeria’s 11 existing tax laws into just two, making the system more investor-friendly.
“Every investor considers tax policies before committing funds. A simplified system will attract investments, expand opportunities, and boost our economy,” he said.
Also speaking, CHAIN’s Executive Director, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, called on Christian leaders to embrace knowledge and guide their communities on critical national issues like tax reform.
The meeting ended with the leaders throwing their weight behind the bill.
