By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has appealed to the traditional rulers in his constituency to reject President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.
The executive bills sent to the nation’s apex legislative institution for consideration and approval have generated controversies nationwide.
The Senator who visited the emir of Askira’s palace told the monarch, Alhaji Mohammed Askirama, that he was in his domain to inform the people and the youths about the present economic hardship bedevilling the country.
He reiterated that the only way out was for the people to return to agriculture.
He said, “The economic hardship bedevilling the people is my major reason for rejecting the proposed Tinubu’s tax reform bills.
“I therefore urge emirs in my senatorial district to join hands in rejecting the tax reform bills.”
In his remarks, the emir pledged to support the Senator in rejecting the proposed fiscal legislation.
He said, “The tax reform policy is worse than the Boko Haram insurgency. I commend Senator Ndume for always speaking truth to power and defending the cause of ordinary Nigerians.”
The monarch appealed to the Federal Government to establish a higher institution, especially a polytechnic in Askira.
He said doing so would bridge the education gap in Askira-Uba and nearby local government areas.
The monarch also appealed to the federal government to deploy more troops in the area to halt the attacks periodically carried out in the Local Government Area and surroundings by Boko Haram terrorists.
Earlier, Ndume urged his younger constituents to embrace agricultural and productive vacations to survive the ongoing food crisis and the rising cost of living in the country.
The Senator visited the nine local government areas and the five emirate councils of the southern Borno senatorial district.
Ndume said that amid the global economic crunch, the only way to escape hunger is for the people to engage in massive farming instead of relying on government and salaries.
He argued that the current minimum wage of N70,000 can’t afford a 50 kg bag of rice sold for over N100,000 or a bag of beans that goes for N200,000.
The federal lawmaker noted that before the present administration, a litre of fuel was sold for N200 but had risen to N970 and N1200 in some parts of the country.
He also lamented that the US dollar exchange rate to Naira, which stood at N600 then, was now exchanged for N1600.
Therefore, he called on the people to switch to agriculture and trading to overcome the raging economic hardship.
Ndume charged the youths who were assembled at the Emir of Gwoza’s palace to take responsibility for security in the area and expose Boko Haram collaborators in their midst.
He noted that the terrorists could not have found their way to carry out attacks in some of the communities in Gwoza and other areas of southern Borno without informants, who were giving information to the terrorists.
He urged the youths to deal with such collaborators before handing them to security agencies.
The Senator commended the youths and residents of Gwoza for their resilience despite the terrorist activities in some areas of the local government area.
He assured them that the government was doing everything possible to ensure the absolute return of peace in the areas for effective development.
He commended Governor Babagana Zulum for resettling 11 communities previously displaced by Boko Haram terrorists in the Gwoza Local Government.
He added that the Governor was working hard to resettle the council’s Ashigarsya, Hambagda, Wala, and Yamtake communities.
At the emir of Uba palace, Ndume urged youths in southern Borno to embrace education.
He said that the certificate obtained could be helpful, even while the youths engage in other activities, such as agriculture or vocational skills to augment their livelihoods.
Responding, the emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Manza, thanked God for bringing Senator Ndume safely to his domain and commended him for all the good work he has been doing for the people.
He appealed to the people of his domain to embrace agriculture and business, as advised by the Senator, for prosperity and self-sustainability, and he appealed to the government to train youths in the area in vocational skills and business.
