Fifteen governors, predominantly from the All Progressives Congress (APC), gathered at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday night for a crucial meeting.
The meeting also saw the attendance of two opposition governors, Alex Otti of Abia State (Labour Party) and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State (All Progressives Grand Alliance).
While the agenda of the meeting was not disclosed to journalists, it comes amid ongoing debates over the controversial tax reform bills introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
The tax bills, currently before the National Assembly, have sparked widespread criticism and resistance, including from the NGF under the aegis of the National Economic Council (NEC).
The 19 northern governors have been particularly vocal, rejecting key provisions of the bills and calling for their withdrawal.
They argue that the reforms could disproportionately affect their regions, potentially exacerbating existing economic disparities.
President Tinubu’s administration introduced the tax reform bills as part of efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system and improve revenue generation. The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
While proponents argue that the reforms are necessary for economic stability, critics, including governors, have expressed fears that the laws could burden states and deepen regional inequalities.