By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Concerned Northern Elders Forum (CNEF) has disowned and strongly criticised recent statements attributed to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), describing them as a gross misrepresentation of the true aspirations of the North.
In a press statement signed by Dr Nasir Manguno, the group said it was compelled to address Nigerians in the interest of truth, responsibility and historical accountability, warning that silence in the face of what it termed calculated distortion would amount to complicity.
The elders said the purported position of the NEF against the FIRS, its Executive Chairman and the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu neither reflects the collective conscience of Northern elders nor aligns with the progressive expectations of the region.
According to the group, the NEF has lost its moral authority and gradually degenerated from a forum of wisdom into what it described as a platform for political grievances and sponsored opposition narratives.
It insisted that true elder statesmanship must be anchored on integrity, foresight and national interest, not nostalgia for failed systems or entitlement to privilege.
The statement commended the performance of the current Executive Chairman of the FIRS, noting that under his leadership the agency has consistently exceeded revenue targets, strengthened non-oil revenue mobilisation and deployed technology and data-driven strategies to block long-standing leakages.
It added that the renewed emphasis on fairness and accountability has ensured that influence no longer guarantees exemption from taxation.
The Concerned Northern Elders stressed that these achievements are verifiable and demonstrate what Nigeria can accomplish when competence replaces complacency, arguing that opposition to such reforms is largely driven by those unsettled by efficiency and transparency.
On the economic reforms of President Tinubu, the group said the administration inherited an economy weakened by subsidy dependency, opacity and selective compliance.
It praised the President for choosing courage over convenience by pursuing reforms it described as difficult but necessary for national recovery.
The elders maintained that revenue reform is not punitive but central to nation-building, stressing that no country develops by shielding elites from responsibility or placing the burden of governance solely on the poor.
The group also expressed full support for the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the FIRS leadership to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, harmonise data systems and eliminate duplication.
It argued that any policy framework that promotes transparency, strengthens institutions and enhances revenue efficiency is in the best interest of both the North and Nigeria as a whole.
Addressing what it described as the politics of sabotage, the elders said renewed criticism of the FIRS coincided with political recalibration by opposition interests seeking to weaponise the North against reform.
They warned that the region would not allow itself to be used for partisan objectives.
The statement emphasised that the true priorities of the North include job creation, infrastructure development, education and accountability, rather than recycled rhetoric and inherited excuses.
According to the elders, these aspirations require strong institutions, fair taxation and fearless leadership.
The group concluded by reaffirming its support for the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda and public servants committed to national interest over elite comfort, stressing that history favours reformers, not obstructionists.
“The North is not against reform. The North is against failure, and it will not be dragged backwards by voices sponsored to fear progress,” the statement added.
What's your reaction?
