Concerned Northern Elders Forum (CNEF) has disowned and sharply criticised recent position of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), over the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The Concerned Northern Elders Forum particularly described the position of the NEF as a misrepresentation of the true aspirations of the North, stressing that the North is not against reform, failure, and would therefore not be dragged backward by voices sponsored to fear progress.
A statement by Dr Nasir Manguno, convener of the group said that silence in the face of calculated distortion would amount to complicity.
Manguno specifically noted that revenue reform is not punitive, but central to nation-building, insisting that no country develops by shielding elites from responsibility or placing the burden of governance solely on the poor.
The group said that it was compelled to address Nigerians in the interest of truth, responsibility and historical accountability, warning that the so-called position of the NEF against the FIRS, its Executive Chairman and the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu neither reflects the collective conscience of Northern elders nor aligns with the progressive expectations of the region.
Manguno said that the NEF has lost its moral authority and has gradually transformed from a forum of wisdom into “a platform for political grievances and sponsored opposition narratives”.
The group insisted that leadership and elder statesmanship must be rooted in integrity, foresight and national interest, not nostalgia for failed systems or entitlement to privilege.
It praised the performance of the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, noting that under his leadership, the agency has recorded consistent over-performance of revenue targets, strengthened non-oil revenue mobilisation and deployed technology and data-driven strategies to block historic leakages.
The Concerned Northern Elders forum further said that the renewed emphasis on fairness and accountability has ensured that influence no longer guarantees exemption from taxation.
The statement also stressed that these achievements are verifiable and represent what Nigeria can accomplish when competence replaces complacency, arguing that opposition to such reforms is driven by those unsettled by efficiency and transparency.
On the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, the group noted that the administration inherited an economy weakened by subsidy dependency, secrecy and selective compliance, thus commended the President for choosing courage over convenience by pursuing reforms it described as difficult, but necessary for national recovery.
The Forum expressed full support for the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the FIRS leadership to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, harmonise data systems and eliminate duplication.
It argued that any policy framework that promotes transparency, strengthens institutions and enhances revenue efficiency is in the best interest of the North and Nigeria at large.
While addressing what it described as “the politics of sabotage”, the elders said the renewed criticism of FIRS coincided with political recalibration by opposition interests seeking to weaponise the North against reform, thus warned that the region would not allow itself to be used for partisan objectives.
The Forum further said that the true priorities of the North include job creation, infrastructure development, education and accountability, rather than recycled rhetoric and inherited excuses, stressing that these aspirations require strong institutions, fair taxation and fearless leadership.
The group therefore reaffirmed its support for the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda and public servants committed to national interest over elite comfort, stressing that history favours reformers and not obstructionists.
