The Concerned Northern Elders Forum has rejected and rejected the recent statements of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which it described as a misrepresentation of Northern interests.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the forum's spokesperson, Nasir Manguno, said the group was forced to address Nigerians in the interest of truth and accountability, warning that silence in the face of deliberate distortion would amount to complicity.
The group said the position given to FIRS, its Executive Chairman and the NEF against the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not reflect the collective consciousness of the Northern elders and is not in line with the progressive expectations of the region.
According to the statement, NEF has lost moral authority and has shifted from a platform of knowledge to one driven by political grievances and sponsored opposition narratives. It states that the skills of senior politicians should be based on honesty, foresight and national interest.
The elders lauded the performance of the FIRS Executive Chairman, noting the consistently better performance of revenue targets under his leadership.
He cited stronger non-oil revenue collection, expanded use of technology and data-driven systems and measures to plug long-standing revenue leakages.
The group said reforms within the agency have promoted fairness and accountability, ensuring that influence no longer warrants exemption from taxation.
It said these results are verifiable and demonstrate the impact of competency and efficiency in public institutions.
On the economy, the elders said President Tinubu inherited a system weakened by subsidy dependence, ambiguity and selective compliance, praising the administration for pursuing difficult but necessary reforms for the national recovery.
The statement stressed that revenue reform is central to nation building and not punitive, arguing that sustainable development cannot be achieved by placing the burden of governance on the poor and shielding the elite from responsibility.
The group also expressed support for the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the FIRS leadership to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, harmonize data systems and eliminate duplication.
It says policies that promote transparency and institutional strength serve the interests of the North and the country.
Also read: Tinubu calls for global partnership to defeat terrorism
Addressing the growing criticism of the FIRS, the elders said the timing coincides with a political recalibration by opposition interests seeking to mobilize the North against the reform, warning that the region will not allow itself to be used for partisan purposes.
The statement said the North's real priorities are job creation, infrastructure development, education and accountability; achieving these goals requires strong institutions, fair taxation and decisive leadership.
The group reaffirmed its support for the acting Chairman of FIRS and the economic reform agenda of President Tinubu, noting that history favors reformers committed to the national interest over the comfort of the elite.
