Wednesday’s Senate plenary descended into chaos following heated arguments over the controversial Tax Reform Bill, which unexpectedly came up for discussion despite being absent from the day’s Order Paper.
The session, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North, witnessed a shouting match among lawmakers over the perceived violation of Senate procedures.
The dispute began when Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, invoked Order 12(1) of the Senate Standing Rules to propose inviting tax experts, including the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Tanimu Yakubu, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, to brief the Chamber on the Tax Reform Bill.
His motion, seconded by Barau, led to instructions for the Sergeant-at-Arms to allow the visitors into the Senate.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South, fiercely opposed the move, arguing that the Tax Reform Bill was too significant to be debated without proper legislative procedure. He insisted that the issue required a supplementary Order Paper to reflect its inclusion, emphasizing, “Nigerians are watching, and this issue cannot be rushed.”
Ndume criticized the Chamber’s leadership for prioritizing speed over due process, adding, “We must represent the interest of Nigerians as we swore to do.”
Deputy Senate President Barau dismissed Ndume’s objections, defending the decision to admit the tax experts, stating, “The Chamber has no time for rhetorics. We are here for facts.”
This response angered Ndume, who accused Barau of undermining his concerns, retorting, “Is it because you are sitting there that you are saying a Senator is speaking rhetorics? You can rule me out of order, but I will speak for Nigerians.”
Despite the uproar, Ndume was ruled out of order, and the visitors were allowed to address the Senate on the proposed legislation. The tense exchange highlighted divisions within the Chamber over the handling of the Bill, which has already sparked national debate.
The Tax Reform Bill, introduced by President Bola Tinubu, aims to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system to ensure economic stability.
However, it has faced opposition from various quarters, including state governors and the National Economic Council, due to concerns over its potential implications.
The incident underscores the contentious nature of the Bill, with lawmakers divided over its urgency and procedural handling.
The session concluded with the tax experts presenting their insights, but the controversy surrounding the Bill is expected to persist as debates continue.
