Babachir Lawal Slams Tax Reform Bill, Criticizes Southern Narratives on Northern Contributions
Former SGF Babachir Lawal labels the Tax Reform Bill a "monster," defends Northern contributions to Nigeria's economy, and calls out Southern narratives of laziness as ignorant and ungrateful.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has strongly criticized the controversial Tax Reform Bill, describing it as a "monster" and condemning narratives labeling Northerners as lazy. In an interview with Punch, Lawal highlighted Northern opposition to the bill and challenged Southerners to recognize the North’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
Lawal emphasized that the North supplies essential raw materials like cattle and paddy rice to industries in the South, which benefit from value addition and VAT revenues. He questioned what comparable contributions the South provides in return.
Detailing Adamawa State’s economic potential, Lawal pointed out that the state could generate billions annually by imposing levies on its agricultural produce but refrains to avoid double taxation and keep food prices manageable.
He further accused those supporting the bill of harboring a mercantile mindset that disregards the welfare of citizens, unlike the North's more humane approach to governance.
Lawal warned that the Tax Reform Bill could exacerbate the rising cost of food and accused critics of the North of ignorance and ingratitude. He also noted that Southern states like Lagos depend heavily on raw materials from the North to sustain their industries.
"The VAT earned is attributed to Southern states of value-addition rather than the Northern states where the raw materials originate," he stated.
Lawal concluded by cautioning that the bill, combined with high petroleum prices and currency exchange rates, would lead to skyrocketing food costs, urging Southerners to reassess their views on the North's economic role.
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