Senator Ali Ndume has expressed strong opposition to the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, raising concerns over the urgency with which they are being handled by the Presidency and some lawmakers.
The senator described the push to pass the bills as suspicious and called for a more deliberate process.
The tax reform bills, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, passed their second reading in the Senate on Thursday, November 28. The proposed legislation includes the establishment of a Joint Revenue Board, a Tax Appeal Tribunal, and an Office of the Tax Ombud, aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s revenue administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume, who represents Borno South, reiterated his stance, urging the Presidency to heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) to withdraw the bills for broader consultations.
“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 we should withdraw the bill, do more consultations, and then bring it again. Why are they in a hurry? That is a big suspicion,” Ndume said.
The senator drew a comparison to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which he noted took years of debate and consultation before being passed. He recounted that the PIB was first introduced during his time in the House of Representatives and only passed years later after he had moved to the Senate.
Ndume also criticized the timing of the tax reform bills, arguing that introducing such measures when Nigerians are struggling economically is inappropriate.
“I disagree with the timing because Nigerians are struggling to survive. Our forefathers were paying taxes; in the North, we pay taxes. So, it is not like we are running away from tax… but the timing is wrong,” he said.
According to Ndume, the bills should only be introduced when citizens are living comfortably, rather than merely surviving. He likened the proposed reforms to “giving someone something with a right hand and taking it back with the left hand.”
Ndume dismissed suggestions that his opposition to the bills was aimed at undermining President Tinubu. Instead, he claimed his stance was to prevent the administration from failing.
Despite Ndume’s objections, the Senate passed the bills for a second reading through a voice vote on Thursday.
These bills are part of President Tinubu’s broader tax reform agenda, which aims to “harmonize revenue processes and resolve disputes in the country’s taxation system.”
