Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed Stands Firm Against Proposed Tax Reforms

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has reaffirmed his opposition to the proposed tax reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, asserting that he will not be intimidated or retract his statements. Speaking on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-End Review programme, Governor Mohammed emphasized that his criticisms were not intended to insult or malign anyone, but rather to advocate for fairness and equity in the nation’s fiscal policies.

“I cannot be threatened as a governor. I stand by my comments. It is not meant to malign, insult, or do anything contrary other than mean well,” Mohammed declared, underlining his commitment to represent the interests of his state.

As the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Mohammed accused the federal government of arrogance and urged President Tinubu’s administration to take the concerns of all stakeholders into account before proceeding with the tax reforms. He warned that the proposed bills could severely impoverish sub-national governments, particularly states that lack major corporate headquarters.

“We believe that as the leader of the federation and all other federating units, they should listen to us, not be arrogant and show some elements of impunity,” he said, calling for constructive dialogue between the federal government and the state governors.

The governor’s concerns focus on the claim that the tax reforms disproportionately favor certain regions, exacerbating economic inequality across the country. He described the proposed legislation as a potential trigger for social unrest, or “anarchy,” urging the presidency to address the legitimate concerns raised by the governors.

In response, the presidency dismissed Mohammed’s remarks as “inflammatory rhetoric” and demanded an official retraction, accusing the governor of issuing threats to the federal government. Despite this pushback, Governor Mohammed, along with 18 other northern governors, has collectively rejected the proposed reforms, asserting that they pose a threat to the survival of their states.

President Tinubu has, however, maintained that the tax reforms are critical for Nigeria’s economic growth and will be implemented as planned, despite the opposition from several governors.