Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has issued a warning that key institutions, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), could cease to exist if the four Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly are enacted into law.
The four Bills under scrutiny are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 – SB.583; The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024 – SB.584; The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024 – SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 – SB.586.
Governor Zulum, who appeared on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics on Sunday night, clarified that neither he nor any Northern governor is opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bills. However, he emphasized the need for dialogue and proper consultation to ensure fair representation in the legislation.
The governor raised concerns about provisions in the Bills, particularly those granting the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) exclusive authority as Nigeria’s sole tax collection agency. Zulum questioned whether the FIRS has the infrastructure and capacity to handle such a significant mandate.
He further expressed concerns that the reforms could disproportionately benefit Lagos and Rivers states, sidelining 34 other states in the process. “Let them give us facts and figures, let them convince us,” Zulum said, questioning the fairness of the proposed tax reforms.
