- Says Rush By Presidency, Some Lawmakers To Pass Bill Suspicious
- Don’t Introduce Such Bills When Nigerians Are Struggling To Survive
- Reps To Convene Special Session On Tax Reform Bills On Tuesday
The controversial Tax Reform Bills which have already been generating controversies and condemnation from some quarters have drawn fresh outrage from Senator Ali Ndume.
Ndume, who has been the strongest critic of the bills, Thursday reiterated his opposition to the tax reform bills, saying that the hurry by the Presidency and some lawmakers to pass the bills looks suspicious.
The Matrix reports that on Thursday, the Senate passed the four tax bills on voice votes for second reading.
Passed through second reading by the Senate are a Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud as part of Tinubu’s comprehensive tax reform package.
The proposed legislation seeks to harmonize, coordinate, and resolve disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Tax Reform Bills: Senate In Rowdy Session
Since President Tinubu transmitted the controversial four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration on October 3, 2024, it has been greeted with a lot of outrage and controversies.
The National Economic Council also advised President Tinubu to withdraw the bills, but the President said he preferred that they go through the processes.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Ndume the lawmaker representing Borno South in the Senate, maintained his position and insisted that it is better for the Presidency to take the advice of the National Economic Council to withdraw the bill.
“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? That is a big suspicion, Ndume said.
Backing up his claim that there is a rush to pass the tax reform bills, Ndume gave instance of the Petrol Industry Bill which he said is more important than the tax bill, adding that it took years before it was passed.
He recalled that the PIB was introduced to the National Assembly when he was in the House of Representatives, but wasn’t passed until years later when he had moved to the Senate.
The Senator said one of his grouses with the tax reform bills is the timing, noting that such bills shouldn’t be introduced when Nigerians are struggling to survive.
He said that the opposition to the bills by him and some others is not because people do not want to pay taxes, but the wrong timing.
READ ALSO: Senate Passes Four Key Tax Reform Bills For Second Reading
“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.
According to Ndume, the best time to present the bills is “when there is no hunger, when people are living not surviving.”
The lawmaker likened the tax reform bills to giving someone something with a right hand and taking it back with the left hand.
Ndume said that his opposition of the bills is because he does not want Tinubu to fail contrary to some insinuations that it is to hurt the President.
Meanwhile, the House Of Representatives will hold a special session on the tax reform bills on Tuesday.
Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the house, made the announcement during Thursday’s plenary after over two hours of an executive session.
Kalu said the lawmakers discussed the tax reform bills during the closed-door sitting, adding that it is an ongoing conversation.
READ ALSO: Reps Member Counters Ndume, Says Tax Reform Bills Will Be Passed
“We will have a special session over the tax bill on Tuesday,” he said.
“This conversation is going to continue from now till Tuesday when we will invite these resource persons to be here to engage us. Thereafter we will decide which way to go.”
