Governor Sule of Nasarawa State has dismissed claims of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and northern governors over the proposed tax reform bills.
Governor Sule emphasized that the governors who supported Tinubu’s emergence are not working against him, but rather seeking further consultation on the tax reform bill, particularly regarding the Value Added Tax (VAT).
The governor accused vested interests of spreading false information to create political tension.
He noted that those who opposed Tinubu’s presidency are now pretending to be his stronger supporters.
Governor Sule clarified that the northern governors’ call for consultation is not opposition to the president, but rather a desire for inclusivity and fairness.
Sule praised Tinubu’s policies, which have made governance and development easier in Nasarawa State without incurring debt.
However, he expressed concerns about the VAT, which generates over N4 billion monthly for the state.
Sule fears that changes to the VAT formula could harm states like Nasarawa, which rely heavily on this revenue due to their limited Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The governor thanked the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for calling for greater awareness on the tax reforms.
He aligned himself with this call, emphasizing the need for comprehensive sensitization to foster public understanding and inclusion.
Governor Sule concluded that if proper sensitization is conducted and the VAT issue is addressed, he will fully support the tax reforms.
