Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has said that the North will not support the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.

The bill, currently before the National Assembly, aims to establish a fiscal framework for taxation in the country.

The Presidency explained that the bills are not directed at any specific region but are intended to benefit the entire country.

In an interview with BBC News Hausa, Zulum expressed the North’s opposition to the proposed legislation.

He raised concerns about the potential negative impacts on the North and other regions of the country, including economic decline, hunger, poverty, and insecurity.

Zulum also questioned the National Assembly for rushing to pass the bill, while the Petroleum Bill has been delayed.

Zulum said, “Our agitation is that we know if passed into law, we will not be able to pay and if, we pay once, the next year, it will become trouble because we won’t be able to pay again.

“Let’s not create problems and leave them behind for our future generations.”

According to him, Lagos State has also expressed concerns about the bill, citing potential economic difficulties thereby underscoring the widespread concern across regional lines.

Zulum appealed to President Tinubu to intervene, citing the North’s significant contribution of about 60 percent votes of his presidential victory.

“We believe this Bill, if passed into Law will completely destroy or kill the North as a whole. We are calling on all relevant stakeholders including President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to raise up and look into this matter.

“It will not only affect the North, but the Eastern and Western even the South-South regions. States like Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo will have problems too. They are equally saying it will also take Lagos State backward and if that’s the case, we all don’t want Lagos to go backward.

“Therefore, let’s leave things the way they are currently.”

The Governor sought compassion from the National Assembly saying, “Do not betray the trust of your constituents by passing the bill. Opposing the bill does not imply opposition to the government but rather a commitment to protecting regional interests.

“My position is that we should all be careful, we have families, grand children, brothers, sisters in our communities, our states to look out for.

“Therefore, whatsoever that will not favour the North, our states – we – the Northern Governors – have met and discussed our position on it and will not be party to this Bill.

“The President should stop listening to comments that those from the North hated him. Let us be careful, no one should be deceived. This is politics, we voted for him, this issue of tax will not remove us from our positions,” Zulum insisted.