Tax reform bills: FG failed to engage experts, stakeholders, Northern Elders alleges - Ripples Nigeria
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Tax reform bills: FG failed to engage experts, stakeholders, Northern Elders alleges

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The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has lashed out the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over its alleged failure to engage with critical stakeholders and experts before drafting the tax reform bills.

The NEF’s reservations were expressed in a statement signed by its Chairman, Management Board, Al-Amin Daggash, yesterday.

The tax reform bills have been a subject of national controversy as Northern leaders are vehemently in opposition to them.

They are largely of the opinion that the bills will further impoverish the north.

Daggash said: “Once again, it is necessary to reiterate, that indeed, Nigerians in general and Northerners in particular, are not really against the introduction of any form of good and meaningful reforms by those in positions of authority, at the federal, state or local government levels.

READ ALSO: Northern Elders kick against Tax Reform Bills, list steps to take for north to accept

“Even though we shall remain very implacable in reaffirming that our practical experiences teach us that going by global best practices, successful reforms are known to be underpinned by strict adherence to certain common cardinal characteristics of the public policy-making process.

“For the convenience of exposition, these similarities include, but not limited to the under-listed essentials: Extensive pre-reforms early engagements with experts and critical stakeholders, in order to secure their buy-in; establishing a very well-defined media/communication strategy that clearly articulates the full import of the reforms and disseminates public awareness and mass enlightenment on a nationwide scale; designing a robust, transparent and inclusive implementation mechanism.

“The Northern Elders’ Forum makes bold to say that the recently proposed Tax Reform Bills by the Federal Government were clearly in breach, with regards to adhering to the above-listed common characteristics of reforms and public policy-making process, all over the world and in conformity with the global best practices.”

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