Bauchi Chamber of Commerce Backs Governor Bala Mohammed’s Stance on Controversial Tax Reform Bill
The Bauchi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has expressed its full support for the Governor of Bauchi, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, following his remarks on the controversial Tax Reform Bill introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement released in Bauchi on Thursday, the President of BACCIMA, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki, reiterated that the Governor’s statement aligned with the collective stance of Northern Governors, traditional rulers, and several national leaders, including the National Economic Council of Nigeria.
“We therefore agree with Governor Bala Mohammed’s position that the Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly are skewed to favor one section of the country,” the statement read.
BACCIMA expressed concerns that the proposed reforms would disproportionately affect the Northern region, further stating that the bills, particularly the proposed changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT), were harmful to the interests of the North. The Chamber specifically criticized the original proposal to allocate VAT revenue to the cities where products are produced, giving these areas a lion’s share of the funds while leaving consumers with little benefit.
The Chamber highlighted that globally, VAT is a consumption tax, meaning it is ultimately paid by consumers. It stressed that, from an equity standpoint, it made more sense for VAT revenue to be distributed to regions where the consumers live and where the tax is paid.
The statement further stated, “Governor Bala Mohammed was only being patriotic by urging President Tinubu to reconsider the tax policy reforms, which, if implemented, could lead to anarchy. We wholeheartedly support him in this regard.”
BACCIMA’s support underscores the broader discontent among Northern leaders with the proposed reforms, with many arguing that the tax policies could exacerbate regional inequalities and negatively impact economic stability. The Chamber has called for a fairer approach to the tax reforms that would benefit all regions of Nigeria equally.
