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By Akeem Atoyebi
The Senate leadership on Wednesday resisted the opposition mounted by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) against allowing top officials of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to defend the tax reform bills; even as it broke own rules.
Before the government officials were allowed access to the chamber for their presentation, the Senate cascaded into a heated session.
The riotous session began when the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti), moved to suspend Order 12 to allow the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Tanimu Yakubu, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, to address the chamber on the bills.
Bamidele argued that the officials were experts in the field, and the motion was seconded by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to allow the visitors in.
However, some senators opposed the motion, saying it was improper to allow such presentations during plenary.
The deliberation on the tax reform bills took some senators by surprise as it was not listed as part of the agenda for the day on the Order Paper.
Senator Ningi suggested that the matter should be referred to the Senate’s finance or appropriations committee for further discussions.
He argued that the rules only permit former presidents, former Speakers of the House of Representatives, and ex-senators to speak in the chambers.
Similarly, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) opposed the move, citing the Senate Rules which prohibit visitors from addressing the chamber on matters not included on the Order Paper.
“This is a very important issue. We must follow established procedures. If this issue is to be discussed today, there must be a supplementary Order Paper to reflect it. Nigerians are watching, and we cannot rush this matter,” Ndume said.
“Mr. President, you can have your way, but I must have my say. Tax reform is sensitive, and our people are deeply affected by this matter. We must represent the interests of Nigerians, as we swore to do,” he added.
The Deputy Senate, Jibrin, who was presiding over the session, however, dismissed Ndume’s concerns, saying, “The chamber has no time for rhetoric. We are here for facts.”
However, Ndume insisted that Barau should apologise for describing his comments as rhetoric. “I demand an apology from you,” Ndume said.
Barau, laughing, explained that “rhetoric” was not an insult and clarified that he had made a general comment, not directed at Ndume. He once again ruled Ndume out of order after which the floor was opened to the FIRS boss to address the lawmakers.
Recall that there has been pushback by relevant stakeholders from the North since President Tinubu transmitted the four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration on October 3.
The bills are; the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.
The others are; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
The president stated that the bills would strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal institutions and align with his administration’s broader development goals.
This paper also reported that in a bid to ensure the passage of the bills before the year’s end, the presidency had stepped up lobbying efforts within the National Assembly, including a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives and its caucus on Monday. The renewed lobbying came amid incr
