Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Monday attributed the developmental challenges in the North to the refusal of most northerners to embrace taxation.
Governor Aliyu stated this at a one-day strategic meeting of Executives of Non-Governmental Organisations in Northern Nigeria on effective participation to compliment government’s efforts in addressing challenges in Nigeria.
Aliyu said it is unfortunate that at a time that most citizens are clamouring for developmental projects, some are out to frustrate the tax policy of government.
He said: “When you talk of taxes, some people are frowning at it because they don’t want to pay taxes.
“Yet these are the people that want good roads, hospitals, potable water, yet only 10 to 15 per cent of us working are paying taxes because it is deducted from our salaries.”
According to Aliyu, there is the urgent need for a policy rethink on the concept of development in the country towards ensuring that Nigerians becomes active partakers in the development of the country.
He said: “Let us have a rethink on the concept of development as NGOs should see themselves as partakers in progress to the collective development of our country.”
Governor Aliyu urged the North to be guided by the wise counsel of the late Alhaji Aminu Kano that Northern Nigeria will be lagging behind if it refuses to unite a form a common front in handling developmental programmes.
Aliyu urged participants to the workshop, which took place at the meeting hall of Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, to be proactive, especially in the areas of reproductive health services and education of the girl-child for the overall development of the region.
Convener of the meeting and pioneer beneficiary of the Mac Arthur Foundation, Chicago USA, Prof. Muhammed Kuta Yahaya, had earlier expressed appreciation to participating NGOs who, despite the numerous challenges, made it a point of duty to attend.
The meeting, with the theme: Effective Partnership to Compliment Governments’ Effort in Addressing Developmental Challenges in the North, Kuta said, is timely as it will go a long way to address some cultural inhibitions found not to be friendly with the girl-child.