By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Former Chief Whip Senator Ali Ndume has asked the Federal Government to withdraw the tax reform bills from the National Assembly because they were coming at the wrong time.
He made the demand in a statement available to journalists in Abuja yesterday.
He said Nigerians’ economic hardship may get worse if federal lawmakers consider and pass the fiscal bills.
Ndume said, “I’m still insisting that the Tax Reforms Bills be withdrawn for more consultations and by-in of critical stakeholders like state, local government and private sectors.”
He advised that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) should expand its tax net just as he called for a more significant demonstration of accountability.
“The FIRS should concentrate on expanding the tax net and collecting more. Also, accountability and transparency should be increased,” he stated.
Ndume also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to investigate commercial banks and ensure that those declaring huge profits yearly pay more taxes.
He asked President Bola Tinubu’s administration to focus on governance reforms before tax reforms.
The bills include a proposal to establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman, all part of President Bola Tinubu’s comprehensive tax reform package.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, noted that all states, zones, and regions in the country need each other to survive, no matter how rich.
He said, “The North was, is, and will never be a parasite or dependent on any region or even the country. We are assets, not liabilities, to Nigeria. Those who think that the current tax reforms are only against Northern interests are naive. As it is, the law is against all low—and middle-income Nigerians.”
The lawmaker called for a demonstration of prudence in governance so that the country’s resources could be appropriately harnessed to benefit the people.
He said he was opposed to the bills because of their wrong timing, the question of derivation, the Value Added Tax, and the lack of consensus or buy-in from Nigerians.
Ndume said, “First, in Nigeria, we need to reform the government. Our personnel and overhead expenditures for 2024 are about 50 to 60 percent of the budget itself.
“We are here in November, and 20 per cent of the budget has not been implemented. But if you check the recurrent expenditure, it has already been exhausted.
“So, that means over N15trn to N20trn is going into personnel, debt servicing, and recurrent expenditure. We should reform the government, not only the Executive – we need to reform the government holistically,” he added.
