Presidency has clarified the claims that the controversial tax reform bills pose a danger to the northern parts of the country, stating the reforms are rather fundamental to streamlining tax administration in the country.

Nigerians from the north have continued to criticise the reforms, insisting that they’re intentionally designed by the Tinubu-led administration to destroy the region.

While speaking on Channels Television on Sunday, Governor Umara Zulum of Borno criticised the bills, alleging the reforms were specifically targeted at enriching Lagos at the expense of other northern states.

Ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar also called for transparent and inclusive stakeholders’ engagement on the reforms, emphasizing the need for objectivity by the National Assembly.

However, in a Monday statement on X, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga slammed commentators for peddling lies on the reforms, accusing them of instigating needless violence in the country.

He noted, “Since the public debate around the transformative tax bills before the National Assembly began in the last few weeks, various political actors and commentators have tried to obfuscate the facts, deliberately misinforming and misleading the public. Unfortunately, most reactions are not grounded in facts, reality, or sufficient knowledge of the bills. While some commentators have attempted to incite the people against lawmakers, others have polarized one section of the country against another.”

Mr Onanuga debunked the claims that the reforms will impoverish the northern regions or engender scrapping of major public institutions in the country, noting they’re part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to accelerate economic growth.

“The tax reform bills will not make Lagos or Rivers more affluent and other parts of the country, as recklessly canvassed, poorer. The bills will not destroy the economy of any section of the country. Instead, they aim to enhance the quality of life for Nigerians, especially the disadvantaged, who are trying to make a living.

“Contrary to the lies being peddled, the bills do not suggest that NASENI, TETFUND, and NITDA will cease to exist in 2029 after the passage of the bills. Government agencies, such as NASENI, TETFUND, and NITDA, are funded through budgetary provisions with company income tax and other taxes paid by the same businesses that are being overburdened with the special taxes.”

While tagging the existing tax laws as obsolete and unbefitting to Nigeria’s economic development, Mr Onanuga reiterated the need for past leaders as well as stakeholders to educate Nigerians on the reforms’ benefits.

“Relevant stakeholders and public analysts owe it a duty to properly educate themselves about the bills’ contents and avoid misleading the public for any reason. We may be entitled to our opinions, but such views must be informed and based on facts, not emotions targeted at inflaming passions. In a period like this, when our people across the country look up to leaders for guidance and direction on matters of public importance, such as the Tax Reform Bills, leaders should be more measured in their public utterances to avoid heating the polity and polarising the country unduly,” he added.