The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has asserted that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State is leveraging his criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms to advance his aspirations for the presidency in 2027.
Tuggar raised this allegation during his appearance on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics* program. He asserted that the governor of Bauchi State has demonstrated a lack of sincerity in his criticisms of President Tinubu.
Other governors did attempt to scrutinize the tax bill when it was presented, which is commendable, as it ensures that Nigerians receive the best possible outcome from the legislation. However, what Bala Mohammed did was leverage this opportunity as a platform to launch his presidential campaign quite prematurely.
He was particularly harsh in his criticisms of the president and his administration. The minister stated that Governor Mohammed has been seeking a meeting with Tinubu after his remarks regarding the tax reform bills.
READ ALSO: Tinubu hails governors for backing tax reform bills
During a Boxing Day address to a Christian community in Bauchi, the governor of Bauchi State urged President Tinubu to reconsider the recent tax policy reforms, cautioning that they could lead to widespread unrest. He emphasized that these reforms do not benefit the Northern region and expressed concern over the potential inability of governors to meet salary obligations. The governor warned that if such policies persist, the Northern region may reveal its discontent in a significant manner.
The Presidency has responded to the governor, condemning what it characterized as a threat against the president. It asserted that Mohammed’s perspective does not represent the sentiments of the entire northern region.
On January 16, Nigerian governors publicly expressed their support for the Federal Government’s tax reform bills. However, they also introduced a proposal for a new formula regarding the distribution of value-added tax (VAT).
The decision came after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Presidential Tax Reform Committee. In a communiqué released following the meeting, the governors’ forum expressed its unwavering support for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s outdated tax laws.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar
