Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has strongly criticized the controversial Tax Reform Bill, and pointing to significant opposition from the North.
In an interview with Punch, Lawal condemned those who label Northerners as lazy because of their opposition to the bill. He argued that the North plays a vital role in supplying raw materials to industries in the South, such as breweries, flour mills, and food processing companies. He questioned what the South contributes in return.
Lawal also noted that his home state, Adamawa, has the potential to generate enough internal revenue to sustain itself. He warned that if Northern raw materials were cut off, Lagos State’s factories would grind to a halt.
He then issued a stark warning to Southerners: “Get ready for sky-high prices of food items and raw materials.” He also remarked on the challenges posed by “hard-working” President Tinubu’s policies on petroleum prices and currency exchange rates.
