The Concerned Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has disowned and criticised recent statements credited to the Northern Elders Forum regarding the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), describing the position as a misrepresentation of the true aspirations of the North.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Dr. Nasir Manguno, the group said it was compelled to address Nigerians in the interest of truth, responsibility, and historical accountability, warning that silence in the face of what it described as calculated distortion would amount to complicity.
The elders stated that the so-called position of the NEF against the FIRS 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.
According to the group, the NEF has lost its moral authority and has gradually transformed from a forum of wisdom into what it described as a platform for political grievances and sponsored opposition narratives. The elders insisted that leadership and elder statesmanship must be rooted in integrity, foresight, and national interest, not nostalgia for failed systems or entitlement to privilege.
On the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, the Concerned Northern Elders stressed that the administration inherited an economy weakened by subsidy dependency, secrecy, and selective compliance, commending the President for choosing courage over convenience by pursuing reforms.
The elders maintained 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 also 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, arguing 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.
“The true priorities of the North include job creation, infrastructure development, education, and accountability, rather than recycled rhetoric and inherited excuses.
“The North is not against reform. The North is against failure, and it will not be dragged backwards by voices sponsored…