Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has responded to concerns surrounding the controversial tax reform bills, stating that he is not opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but insists that only Lagos would significantly benefit if the bills are passed.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, Governor Zulum clarified his stance on the tax reform proposals currently under review in the House of Representatives.
He emphasized that while he has been a strong supporter of President Tinubu, the tax bills would only favor Lagos, leaving the remaining 35 states at a disadvantage.
“I am a strong member of the APC and have supported President Tinubu from 2019 to 2023. I was also the first governor to publicly call for power to shift to the South,” Zulum said.
“However, regarding these tax bills, if they pass as currently proposed, only Lagos will stand to gain.”
Zulum explained that during a recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, he and other stakeholders had advised the Federal Government to pause the process and conduct further consultations.
Despite this, he said, their advice had been misrepresented by some, leading to misunderstandings about their intentions.
“I believe in consultation, which is central to democracy. We are asking for the right to be consulted. This is not an attack on the president but a call for a more thorough discussion,” he said.
In recent weeks, the tax reform bills have sparked tension between the Federal Government and the 36 state governors, with many demanding a delay to allow for more input.
Zulum had previously called on his colleagues and northern stakeholders to reject the bills, warning that they could harm the region’s economy.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also called for fairness and transparency in the review process.
Governor Zulum emphasized that his call to suspend the bills temporarily was not rooted in opposition to the president but in the desire to protect the interests of all Nigerians.
He pointed out that after reviewing the bills, it became clear that the reforms would disproportionately benefit Lagos, leaving other states, including the north, southeast, south-south, and even parts of the southwest, at a disadvantage.
“I am not an economist, but from our calculations, we believe only Lagos will benefit. Even Lagos State itself told us they would incur losses if the bills were implemented,” Zulum noted.
He questioned the urgency of passing the bills, given the potential negative impact on other regions.
“Why the rush? We need time for more consultations. This is a democratic process. We must thoroughly examine these bills before they become law,” Zulum said.
The governor concluded by reiterating that the call for more time is not about opposing the president but about ensuring the tax reform does not harm other parts of the country.
“We need to understand the details before proceeding,” he said, stressing that most of the revenue generated by the new tax system would likely go to Lagos.
