By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
Former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and prominent Northern Christian leaders have expressed their support for the tax reform bills of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which have sparked widespread concerns, particularly in the northern region of the country.
The Tax Reform Bill received backing at a town hall meeting organised by the Christian Awareness Initiatives of Nigeria (CHAIN) on Thursday in Kaduna. The meeting, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reform and Matters Arising,” brought together key figures who endorsed the bill.
Other leaders who endorsed the reform include the immediate past Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter, Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab, and former ECWA Secretary, Rev. Yunusa Madu, along with several other Northern Christian leaders.
In his address at the town hall, Dogara emphasised that national issues should not be viewed through a regional lens, as seen with the concerns surrounding the tax reform bills. He argued that the bills would particularly benefit the northern region, where many people are struggling with the burden of taxation.
“Those earning less than N800,000 will not be taxed, which means many Northerners will be exempt from taxation. If businesses with a turnover of less than N50 million per month are also exempt from tax, this will significantly ease the economic pressure on our people,” Dogara explained.
“More businesses will be created, leading to more employment in a region with high unemployment.”
He further stated, “If we want progress, we must be willing to move beyond the status quo. It will require courage, leadership, patience, and sometimes sacrifice. Even if it means making significant contributions from the North for Nigeria to progress, we must be prepared to do so.
“At some point, we will also ask the South to make sacrifices for the North. This is how we build a stronger, more unified country.”
Earlier, Rev. Joseph Hayab, Executive Director of CHAIN, acknowledged that discussions on the tax reform bill should have taken place earlier, but insisted that it was better late than never.
Hayab highlighted that, according to experts, the bill holds considerable promise, though there are certain grey areas that need to be addressed. He stressed that an informed citizenry can guide elected representatives at both the state and national levels to ensure necessary corrections are made before the bill is passed.
“Our nation and people will not experience meaningful progress until we acquire a good understanding of our country and work together to develop it,” Hayab said.
Similarly, Rev. Yunusa Madu, former General Secretary of ECWA, urged Nigerians to be cautious and avoid supporting or condemning matters they are not fully informed about. He cautioned against allowing religious or ethnic sentiments to hinder the nation’s progress.
“You cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater,” Madu remarked, advocating for a balanced approach to the tax reform.
He said, “Our position as Christians in the North is that this reform is one of the best things to happen to the country. While there are grey areas that need attention, this does not warrant the complete rejection of the bill.”
Madu added, “Let’s move forward with the bill, address the grey areas, and continue because it is beneficial to the general public. For instance, multiple taxation has been abolished, and businesses will now benefit as those with an annual turnover of less than N50 million will no longer be taxed.
“Additionally, those with an income of less than N800,000 are exempt from tax. If properly implemented, this reform will benefit the majority of the population.”
Madu concluded by urging that the tax reform bill be supported and implemented to improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.