Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has expressed concerns over the rushed passage of the tax reform bills, calling the haste by the presidency and some lawmakers suspicious.
The bills, which passed their second reading in the Senate on Thursday, have sparked controversy since President Bola Tinubu introduced them to the National Assembly, with Ndume strongly opposing their approval.
The National Economic Council has urged President Tinubu to withdraw the bills, but the President has opted to allow them to go through the legislative process. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Ndume reiterated his stance, advocating for the President to heed the Council’s advice and withdraw the bills.
“It is not that I am totally saying that we should throw away the baby with the bath water, but since the governors who are our leaders, the National Economic Council and many individuals have said that it is not that we should throw away the bills, no.
“Withdraw the bill, do more consultations and then bring the bill again. Why are they in a hurry,” Ndume queried.
Senator Ndume, citing the rush to pass the tax reform bills, compared it to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which he argued was more significant and took years to pass. He recalled that the PIB was introduced during his tenure in the House of Representatives but wasn’t approved until much later, after he had moved to the Senate.
The Senator criticized the timing of the tax reform bills, emphasizing that such legislation should not be proposed when Nigerians are grappling with economic hardships. He clarified that the opposition to the bills, including his own, is not due to resistance to taxation but because the timing is inappropriate.
“I disagree with the timing because Nigerians are struggling to survive. Our forefathers were paying tax, in the North we pay taxes.
“So, it is not like we are running away from tax, we pay taxes, every responsible Nigerian will want to pay tax, but the timing is wrong,” he said.
Ndume argued that the tax reform bills should be introduced during a period of economic stability, not when people are struggling with hunger. He likened the bills to giving with one hand and taking back with the other.
He further clarified that his opposition to the bills stems from a desire to see President Tinubu succeed, countering claims that his stance is intended to undermine the President.
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