Northern Youths Centre has also condemned the increasing political sentiment on the Tax Bill that is under discussion at the National Assembly now. It was made at a climactic one-day event hosted by the Project Management Team in one of the most popular conference venues in the North at Arewa House in Kaduna with delegates drawn from the seven Northwest States.
Mr. Hamza Saulawa of Nigeria First Project Initiative said ‘The tax reform bills are therefore a golden chance to bolster up our country’s revenue base and free it from reliance on its main income earner, the oil,’ while presenting the communique alongside Bishir Dauda as National Secretary and Sadi Garba as Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Nigerian Students Forum.
The coalition said it was worried by what it termed as attempts to blackmail the masses into perceiving an important economic debate as a political tool in the 2027 polls. Citizens were called to avoid polarizing discourse and pay attention to the specifics of the envisaged changes.
”We just see a deliberate attempt to change the narratives,” the group noted, adding that some political players are “wearing the toga of regionalism to advance very selfish interests.”
Northern Nigeria and the social issues affecting it were also discussed at the symposium, in the broader perspective of economic issues like cross regional food production and the exploitation of solid minerals. “Our region holds so much potential for economic sovereignty,” the coalition said, “but to get there, we need both intangible and tangible visions and unequivocal commitment to reaction.”
They hailed the recent efforts made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu including the cration of Ministry of Livestock Development and Northwest Development Commission. But, they also emphasized that the question on how to achieve positive outcomes when implemented, since its proponents claimed that it will positively impact local communities.
Future, the coalition urged Northern stakeholders to engage in the further public sessions concerning the tax bills. ”This is our chance to make sure that our voices are heard, and our issues considered.” they said, making a point that the constructive involvement should be made in the reform.
The symposium ended with themes stressing ethic responsibility and openness of governance alongside leaders’ assurances, symposium participants’ agreeing to remain vigilant. ‘The future of our region is in a framework for substantial economic cooperation and not more orinine political posturing’ the communique said.
Many youths, organisations, students and community groups from various areas in the Northwestern part of the country attended the event to show support for objective telephone and support for the different youths organisations and students groups and all forms of community groups present take cognisance on the need to support the nation’s economic reform.
