Zulum clarifies northern governors’ stance on Tinubu’s tax reforms

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has revealed that northern governors require more time to consult on President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reforms.

He explained that this was the reason they advised the President to withdraw the bills for further discussions.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, Governor Zulum clarified that the northern governors are not opposed to President Tinubu’s administration, despite certain speculations.

The governor emphasized that the north showed strong support for President Tinubu in the 2023 elections, with the region contributing over 60% of the votes. This, he said, clearly demonstrated their backing for the President.

However, Governor Zulum stood by his previous stance on the proposed tax reforms, stating that the bill would primarily benefit Lagos State and put other regions, including the north, at a disadvantage.

“We did our own research and concluded that we would lose out. On the tax issue, there are many misconceptions. We believe that the VAT provision in the new tax law would mainly benefit Lagos and Rivers States, and that other regions, particularly the north, would suffer,” he explained.

Addressing claims that he is working against the administration, Governor Zulum reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that the northern governors are not opposed to the President.

“I am a strong member of the APC. I was the first governor to publicly declare that power must go to the South before the 2019 and 2023 elections. Despite some claiming that the north was against the President, it’s clear that 60.2% of his votes came from the north,” Zulum concluded.