President Bola Tinubu has addressed comments made by former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, concerning proposed tax reform bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Tinubu welcomed the robust national discourse on the reforms but urged against the use of divisive language that could stoke ethnic or regional tensions.
Kwankwaso, speaking at Skyline University’s convocation ceremony in Kano, had alleged that the reforms were part of a “Lagos agenda” to dominate the northern region. He criticized the administration for purportedly centralizing tax revenues and interfering in Kano State’s governance.
“The Emir has just been installed at this difficult time in our country, especially in northern Nigeria,” Kwankwaso said. “We see efforts from the Lagos axis to colonize this part of the country. Lagos young men are working to impose and take away our taxes from Kano to Lagos.”
Kwankwaso also accused the federal government of pushing northern business owners to relocate their headquarters to Lagos, exacerbating regional economic inequalities. He called on the National Assembly to reject the tax reform bills.
In response, Minister Idris dismissed the claims, emphasizing that the tax reforms are intended to benefit all Nigerians by empowering states and local governments financially. He condemned the injection of ethnic and regional rhetoric into a matter of national policy.
“The tax reform bills are pivotal to ensuring financial autonomy for states and local governments while addressing long-standing issues of resource allocation,” Idris said. He clarified that the proposed measures would not disadvantage any state or region, nor undermine federal agencies.
Highlighting the broader goals of the administration, Idris explained that the reforms aim to increase revenues without additional tax burdens while enhancing transparency and accountability.
“President Tinubu is implementing an ambitious fiscal reform agenda to devolve more resources to states and local governments, ensuring greater benefits for the Nigerian people,” he added.
Idris also reassured Nigerians that the administration is open to feedback and has directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to collaborate with the National Assembly to address public concerns before the bills are enacted.
“These reforms will drive unprecedented financial empowerment for local governments, strengthen critical infrastructure, and enhance social investments,” Idris stated. “The administration remains committed to closing resource gaps and ensuring no one is left behind in the Renewed Hope agenda.”
He urged commentators to focus on informed and respectful debates while avoiding misinformation, asserting that the reforms represent a transformative moment in Nigeria’s fiscal history.
