…Seeks revitalisation of North’s socio-economic, cultural heritage
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Contents, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has explained why some critical stakeholders in the northern part of the country are nervous over the proposed tax reform Bills being considered by the 10th National Assembly.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi-Central senatorial district in the red chamber, yesterday said the region was ill-prepared for such fiscal legislation. She, therefore, called for the revitalisation of Northern Nigeria’s socio-economic and cultural heritage to boost the economic fortunes of the region.
According to a statement by her media aide, Arogbonlo Israel, in Abuja yesterday, the Senator asserted this while speaking at the Sardauna Memorial Day, which was held in Kaduna.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, “The only reason why the North is jittery about the tax reform Bills is because we are ill-prepared. If we were generating ₦3.6 trillion from one agricultural product, would we be bothered about the reforms?
“Hence, we must ask our leaders with developmental mindsets to stir-up the entrepreneurial eco-systems so that our lands and factories can be productive once again. Let’s act from a position of economic abundance for our region, and the country at large”, she stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan called for collaboration among leaders in the North and civil society to achieve the goals. She noted that in 1959, Nigeria’s groundnut export to the UK was valued at £27 million, equivalent to ₦3.6 trillion today, while current groundnut exports are only $3 million.
The Senator urged the North to embrace the vision of the Late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, who led the region to prosperity in the 1950s. She also stressed the importance of education and cultural preservation to achieve the envisaged economic transformation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also stressed the need for a developmental mindset among leaders to revive the economy and strengthen entrepreneurial eco-systems.
The event was attended by dignitaries, including the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Internal Party Affairs, AbdulAzeez Is’haq.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, and Major Hamza al-Mustapha (rtd).
