A significant rift has emerged among Northern Nigerian elders over economic policy and institutional support. A faction operating as the Concerned Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has publicly disowned and criticized recent statements made by the established Northern Elders Forum regarding the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
A Public Disavowal and Defense of Reforms
In a press statement released on December 18, 2025, and signed by Dr. Nasir Manguno, the group declared that the NEF's position misrepresents the true aspirations of Northern Nigeria. They stated they were compelled to speak out in the interest of truth and historical accountability, warning that silence would amount to complicity in the face of what they called a "calculated distortion."
The elders asserted that the NEF's criticism of the FIRS, its Executive Chairman, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic agenda does not reflect the collective conscience of Northern elders. They accused the NEF of losing its moral authority, transforming from a forum of wisdom into a platform for political grievances and sponsored opposition narratives.
Praise for FIRS Performance and Tinubu's Agenda
The statement offered strong commendation for the current leadership of the FIRS. It highlighted that under the Executive Chairman, the agency has consistently exceeded revenue targets, strengthened non-oil revenue mobilization, and used technology to block historic financial leakages.
"The renewed emphasis on fairness and accountability has ensured that influence no longer guarantees exemption from taxation," the statement read. They argued that opposition to such verifiable achievements is driven by those unsettled by new efficiency and transparency.
On President Tinubu's reforms, the group acknowledged the administration inherited an economy weakened by subsidy dependency and secrecy. They praised the President for choosing courage over convenience by pursuing difficult but necessary reforms for national recovery. The elders emphasized that revenue reform is central to nation-building, stating no country develops by shielding elites from responsibility.
Warning Against Political Sabotage and a Forward-Looking Vision
The Concerned Northern Elders linked the renewed criticism of the FIRS to political recalibration by opposition interests seeking to weaponize the North against reform. They issued a clear warning that the region would not allow itself to be used for such partisan objectives.
The group outlined the true priorities of the North as job creation, infrastructure development, education, and accountability—not recycled rhetoric. They expressed full support for FIRS's inter-agency collaborations and data harmonization efforts, stating any policy promoting transparency and institutional strength is in the North's best interest.
Concluding, the forum reaffirmed support for the FIRS Chairman and President Tinubu's agenda, stressing that history favors reformers, not obstructionists. "The North is not against reform. The North is against failure, and it will not be dragged backward by voices sponsored to fear progress," the statement declared.
