Former Senate Chief Whip and representative of Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw and review the proposed tax reform bills before presenting them to the National Assembly.
In an interview on Thursday, November 28, Ndume said while the bills have potential benefits, their introduction amidst widespread economic hardship in Nigeria was ill-timed.
He stated, “As it is today, when you talk about reforms to Nigerians, whether good or bad, they misconceive you.”
Ndume expressed specific concerns about provisions in the bills related to derivation and Value Added Tax (VAT), describing them as “contaminated and contradictory.”
“Reform is necessary if we have to move forward. I am not against reforms or the tax reform bills. My problem is, first of all, timing. Secondly, the issue of derivation makes the bill contaminated and contradictory in some cases,” he noted.
The senator urged the government to consider recommendations from the National Economic Council (NEC) and governors, suggesting that the bills be withdrawn for further scrutiny before resubmission to the National Assembly.
“The constitution has to be amended for some of these provisions to be effective. I’m glad we are doing a constitutional review, so even if it means amending the constitution, let’s do that,” Ndume said.
He added, “Let it be on record that I’m not saying the bills should be scrapped. But we need to withdraw the bills, work on them, and resubmit them to the National Assembly. When I reviewed the bills, they contained many good elements, but issues like derivation and VAT are contentious and need further discussion.”
Ndume also recalled that traditional rulers and governors had not publicly shifted their stance on the tax reform bills, further emphasizing the need for broader consensus.
This is not the first time Senator Ndume has voiced his opposition to the tax reform bills. Earlier, during a November 5 interview, he labeled the bills “dead on arrival” and advised President Tinubu to retract them in line with suggestions from the NEC and the Northern Governors’ Forum.
He argued that introducing additional taxes amid Nigeria’s economic challenges would not be well received by the populace.
Investors King reports that Senator Ndume remains a vocal critic of the tax reform bills, advocating for careful consideration to address public concerns and ensure economic reforms are sustainable and equitable.
