The Concerned Northern Elders Forum has rejected recent statements attributed to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on the operations of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), describing the position as unrepresentative of the collective aspirations and interests of the North.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Dr. Nasir Manguno, the group said it was compelled to speak out in the interest of truth, responsibility and historical accountability, warning that silence in the face of what it termed deliberate distortion would amount to complicity.
The elders argued that the NEF’s reported opposition to the FIRS, its Executive Chairman and the economic reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu does not reflect the conscience of Northern elders nor align with the region’s progressive expectations.
They further alleged that the NEF has lost its moral authority, accusing it of drifting from a platform of wisdom into what they described as a vehicle for political grievances and sponsored opposition narratives. According to the group, elder statesmanship must be anchored on integrity, foresight and national interest, rather than nostalgia for failed systems or entitlement to privilege.
Commending the performance of the current Executive Chairman of the FIRS, the elders said the agency has recorded consistent over-performance of revenue targets, strengthened non-oil revenue mobilisation and deployed technology-driven strategies to block long-standing revenue leakages. They added that recent reforms have promoted fairness and accountability by ensuring that influence no longer guarantees exemption from taxation.
The group described these achievements as verifiable and indicative of what Nigeria can attain when competence replaces complacency, arguing that resistance to such reforms is largely driven by interests unsettled by efficiency and transparency.
On President Tinubu’s economic policies, the elders said the administration inherited an economy weakened by subsidy dependence, opacity and selective compliance. They commended the President for pursuing what they described as difficult but necessary reforms aimed at restoring fiscal sustainability and national recovery.
The statement maintained that revenue reform is central to nation-building and not punitive, insisting that no country develops by shielding elites from responsibility or placing the burden of governance solely on the poor.
The elders also expressed support for the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the FIRS leadership to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, harmonise data systems and eliminate duplication, noting that policies promoting transparency, institutional strength and revenue efficiency serve both the North and the country at large.
Warning against what they termed “politics of sabotage,” the group said renewed criticism of the FIRS coincides with political repositioning by opposition interests seeking to exploit regional sentiment. They cautioned that the North would not allow itself to be used for partisan objectives.
The group concluded by reaffirming its support for the FIRS leadership, President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda and public officials committed to national interest over elite comfort, stressing that sustainable progress requires strong institutions, fair taxation and decisive leadership.
