The Northern Elders Forum’s (NEF) recent remarks against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have been rejected by the Concerned Northern Elders as not reflecting the goals and interests of the North.
The group said it felt obligated to speak to the country in the interest of truth and accountability in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Dr. Nasir Manguno. It cautioned that staying silent in the face of what it called intentional misrepresentation would amount to endorsement.
The elders contended that the NEF’s purported opposition to the FIRS, its Executive Chairman, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reform initiatives does not represent the common ideals or aspirations of Northern stakeholders.
They claimed that the NEF had lost its moral stature and that it had strayed from its original purpose as a council of wisdom to become a vehicle for political dissatisfaction and opposing narratives that were influenced by outside forces. The group asserts that genuine elder statesmanship must be based on integrity, vision, and the welfare of the country rather than entitlement-driven privileges or devotion to antiquated systems.
The statement praised the FIRS Executive Chairman’s leadership and stated that the agency had continuously surpassed revenue targets, increased non-oil revenue production, and implemented data-driven, technology-based strategies to eliminate long-standing revenue leakages. It further stated that the period of influence-guaranteed exemption from tax duties has ended due to a renewed commitment to equity and accountability.
These improvements, according to the Concerned Northern Elders, are quantifiable and show Nigeria’s potential when professionalism replaces inertia. They believe that people who are uncomfortable with efficiency and transparency frequently oppose such reforms.
Regarding President Tinubu’s more comprehensive economic program, the group claimed that the administration took over an economy weakened by reliance on fuel subsidies, opacity, and inconsistent compliance. It commended the President for adopting challenging but necessary changes, characterizing them as crucial measures for a long-term economic recovery.
The elders emphasized that revenue reform should not be seen as punitive but rather as a fundamental component of national development, pointing out that no country advances by shielding elites from civic duty or placing the burden of governance on the impoverished.
Additionally, they expressed support for the Memorandum of Understanding carried out by the FIRS leadership in order to strengthen interagency cooperation, integrate data platforms, and minimize duplication. They contended that frameworks that foster institutional strength and transparency ultimately benefit the North as well as the nation at large.
In response to what they called “acts of political sabotage,” the group noted that fresh assaults on the FIRS seem to correspond with political realignments by opposition groups looking to take advantage of emotion in the area. They issued a warning that mobilizing the North for partisan purposes would be met with resistance.
The statement claims that rather than rehashed narratives and inherited explanations for poor performance, the region’s true goals continue to be the creation of jobs, infrastructure expansion, educational advancement, and accountability. According to the elders, strong institutions, equitable taxation, and courageous leadership are necessary to accomplish these objectives.
The group emphasized that history ultimately rewards reformers, not obstructionists, and reaffirmed its support for the FIRS Executive Chairman, President Tinubu’s economic reforms, and public officials dedicated to the national interest above elite comfort.
“The North has no problem with reform. The statement claimed, “It rejects failure and will not be pulled backward by voices financed to fear progress.”
