The President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Shettima Yerima, has raised concerns over the Federal Government’s handling of the controversial tax reform bills under review by the National Assembly.
Yerima pointed out key issues such as inadequate consultation, lack of transparency, and minimal public engagement as critical shortcomings in the government’s approach.
Speaking with Saturday Vanguard, he emphasized that while taxation is an essential tool for national development, the process of introducing these reforms was poorly managed, leading to regional misunderstandings, particularly in the North.
“The tax reform bills depend on how individuals or certain interests perceive them,” Yerima noted. “But for us, the government could have done better. The idea was fine, drawing inferences from the situation in the country.
Even if we are doing fine, no country ignores taxation. The presentation was one of the problems. The managers of the bills did not do well, which is why you see the reactions coming from the North as if the region is anti-tax reforms. No. They brought the issue and politicized it, making it seem anti-North.”
Yerima commended the government’s decision to allow lawmakers to consult their constituencies for further input, describing it as a step toward securing legitimacy for the reforms.
“The government can still do well by consulting, which is the first thing they should have done,” he added. Yerima expressed optimism about resolving the controversy, stating, “I am happy that, at the end of the day, there is an understanding between the executive arm of government and the lawmakers.
Certainly, the trouble it generated was unnecessary.” His remarks underscore the need for inclusive and transparent processes to foster trust and cooperation in national decision-making.
