The Governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have agreed to dismantle multiple taxes across the country in line with the tax bills awaiting assent by President Bola Tinubu.
They made the resolution after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja which ended early Thursday, adding that they will also eliminate illegal road blocks under their jurisdiction as part of efforts to facilitate easy movement of goods.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said the governors resolved to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes which they agreed were responsible for food inflation in the country.
The communique was signed by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“The forum received a briefing from the National Security Adviser (NSA), accompanied by the Ministers of Defence, Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Transportation, on the rising cost of food and livestock transportation across the country.
“The presentation revealed that the proliferation of checkpoints, illegal taxation, and poor infrastructure are key contributors to price inflation and inefficiencies in the food supply chain.
“The NSA noted that a high-level inter-ministerial committee has been established to address these concerns and has submitted its recommendations for the endorsement of the Forum.
“Governors acknowledged the urgency of the matter and expressed commitment to collaborate with federal authorities to streamline levies, dismantle unauthorized checkpoints, and improve the movement of goods across states,” the Lagos State Governor said.
The emergency session came at a time of heightened insecurity in several parts of the country, with increasing calls for both federal and state authorities to take coordinated action to help the economy.