The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) Women Wing hosted a one-day National Women Conference in Jos, Plateau State, on January 16, 2025. Themed “The Position of the Nigerian Women on the Controversial Tax Reform Bills,” the event brought together women leaders, activists, and stakeholders to discuss the impact of the proposed tax reforms on women.

President Bola Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly onOctober 3, 2024. The bills aim to overhaul tax administration and revenue generation in Nigeria. However, the Northern group expressed concerns about the bills, citing gray areas that need clarification, particularly the VAT derivation formula and stakeholder involvement from the North.

Speaking at the event, Comrade Nankling Pamela Nanle, National Director of Women Affairs (CNG), highlighted the need for sensitization and awareness about the tax reform bills among grassroots citizens.

“We realized that people at the grassroots do not even know what the bill is about, yet it will affect them significantly. We urge the President to hear our concerns and for the grafters of the bill to revisit the gray areas, especially those that impact northern women dominating the informal market sector,” she stated.

The event featured other notable speakers, including Hon. Caroline Panglang Dafur, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Development, Plateau State, represented by Sunday Dumbil, who encouraged women to engage in meaningful dialogue about the bill.

She noted that “Northern women should not completely write off the bill but consider how it can address issues like multiple taxation and support small-scale business owners.”

Hon. Barr. Olivia Dazyam, Acting Chairperson of the Gender and Equal Rights Commission, emphasized the broader implications of the reforms.

“The bills aim to harmonize tax laws, reducing the burden on small-scale businesses and informal traders. However, we must ensure their implementation addresses critical issues such as insecurity, gender-based violence, and illegal taxation,” she stated.

Barr Dazyam also recommended forming committees to break down the bills for better understanding and advocating for adjustments to address regional and gender-specific concerns.

In his keynote presentation, Dr. Dagwom Dang of ANAN University Kwall, Jos, described the tax reforms as “pro-poor, pro-women, and pro-business” but noted disparities in revenue allocation among regions.

“If implemented correctly, the reforms could grow Nigeria’s GDP and reduce the tax burden on low-income earners. However, there must be clarity on revenue allocation and fairness in implementation,” he explained.

Participants identified several issues with the bill, including lack of awareness, unclear tax and revenue structures, multiple taxation, and ineffective implementation. The conference urged stakeholders to engage in robust discussions to address these concerns and ensure the bill benefits all regions and stakeholders.