The claims in some quarters that Northern Nigeria is a liability to Nigeria has dismissed by Sen Ali Ndume, saying the North is rather an asset.
,Ali Ndume (APC) Borno South), former Leader of the Senate on Sunday, declared that the north is not parasitic in nature, particularly when matters of economic survival are concerned.
He noted that all states, zones and regions in the country need each other to survive, no matter how rich.
“The north was, is and will never be a parasite or dependent on any region or even the country. We are assets not liability to Nigeria.
“Those who think that the current tax reforms are only against northern interest are naive. As it is, the law is against all the low and middle income Nigerians,” he stated.
Ndume also called for a demonstration of prudence in governance so that the resources of the country can be properly harnessed to the benefit of the people.
He insisted that the Tax Reform Bills were coming at the wrong time, which according to him, will make economic hardship suffered by Nigerians to get worse.
“I’m still insisting that the Tax Reforms Bills be withdrawn for more consultations and by-in of critical stakeholders like state, local government and private sectors,” he said.
He advised that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) should expand its tax net just as he called for greater demonstration of accountability.
“The FIRS should concentrate on expanding the tax net and collecting more. Also, accountability and transparency should be increased,” he stated
