Kano lawmaker Jibrin vows to champion passage of Tinubu?s tax reform bills rejected by Northern Governors, lawmakers and monarchs

National Assembly member Abdulmumin Jibrin has voiced strong confidence in the approval of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills, despite opposition from some stakeholders in Northern Nigeria and the National Executive Council’s recommendation to withdraw the proposals. The tax reforms have been met with criticism, with figures like Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South calling the bills “dead on arrival.”

However, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Jibrin, who represents the Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, clarified that opposition to the bills is not universal in the North. He reiterated his commitment to pushing the reforms through the legislative process, arguing that their provisions support longstanding national goals.

“It is not a consensus in the North that this bill should be shut down… I can confidently tell you that the bill will go through the processes in the National Assembly and it will be passed,” Jibrin asserted.

He further argued that once passed, Nigerians would see that the reforms are neither damaging to national interests nor to the Northern region.

President Tinubu has also responded to the controversy, affirming that the legislative process will proceed, as opposed to retracting the bills. Through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu called on the National Assembly to let the bills go through due legislative scrutiny while expressing openness to consultations to address any concerns.