The leadership of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Saturday in Abuja advised the federal government against hurriedly going ahead with what it called the controversial tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.
A statement by the chairman, management board of NEF, Al Amin Dagash said the bill was a toxic proposal hurriedly packaged without democratic intent.
NEF therefore, affirmed that there should be extensive engagements with experts and critical stakeholders in order to secure their buy-in while establishing a well-defined media/communication strategy that clearly articulates the full import of the reforms and disseminates public awareness and mass enlightenment on a nationwide scale.
The statement noted that, “The leadership of Northern Elders’ Forum holds the firm view that government’s interests will best be served and promoted by actively engaging in comprehensive dialogue with varied and critical stakeholders in order to foster a very admirable legislative outcomes that will respect the rights of all citizens and promote their individual and collective wellbeing, while at the same time, ensuring the attainment of a balanced approach to taxation that prioritises national unity, progress and economic development.”
The body noted further that, “The plan to move the exceedingly performing developmental and technological institutions with a secured means of sustainability, such as, TETFund, NITDA and NASENI to the uncertain and hazardous future of budgetary allocation should be halted. We strongly recommend that the status quo should be maintained by the government, so as to strengthen and protect these strategic national institutions.”