Tax reform bills: ‘It’s suspicious’ – Ndume cries out ove rushed passage

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Ali Ndume, the senator for Borno South in the Senate, has expressed disapproval of the tax reform legislation’ hasty passing, claiming that it appears suspicious that the president and certain members are acting in such a hurry.

Since President Bola Tinubu introduced the tax reform measures to the National Assembly, they have generated controversy, and Ndume has continued to voice his fiercest opposition to them. On Thursday, the Senate passed the bills for second reading.

President Tinubu was also persuaded by the National Economic Council to revoke the measures, but he insisted that he would rather see them through the legal system.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the lawmaker defended his stance and emphasized that the Presidency should heed the suggestion 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,” Ndume queried.

Ndume used the Petrol Industry Bill, which he claimed was more significant than the tax bill and took years to pass, to support his assertion that there is a rush to pass tax reform legislation.

When he was in the House of Representatives, he recalled, the PIB was presented to the National Assembly; but, it wasn’t until years later, after he had transferred to the Senate, that it was passed.

The Senator stated that the timing of the tax reform measures is one of his grievances, pointing out that they shouldn’t be introduced when Nigerians are already having a hard time making ends meet.

He claims that his and some others’ opposition to the bills is not due to a lack of desire to pay taxes, but the wrong timing.

“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 compared the bills to giving someone something with one hand and taking it back with the other with the left, stating that the ideal time to offer the bills is when there is no hunger.

He went on to say that, despite some hints that the legislation are intended to harm the president, he opposes them because he does not want Tinubu to fail.

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