By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
There was a rowdy session in the Senate yesterday when the leadership of the red chamber decided to admit the Federal Government team driving the tax reform bills into the chamber.
The crisis started when the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, announced that visitors would be coming to the chamber to brief them on the proposed tax reform bills.
Bamidele, at the session, presided over by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, invoked Order 12 (1) to suspend the Senate Rules, seeking permission for their guests to enter the chamber and address them.
The visitors included the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji; the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
*Ningi, Ndume, reject FG’s team admission into chamber
The Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, raised a point of order drawing the attention of the presiding officer to an error in the decision to admit the guests into the chamber because they were not captured among the categories of people recognized in the rule book.
Ningi cited Order 12 of the Senate rule book to read out the categories of people who should be admitted into the chamber.
However, Bamidele clarified that he sought to suspend order 12 to admit the people.
Barau noted Ningi’s point of order but said inviting the visitors was to educate Nigerians through the Senate about the controversial tax reform bills to avoid confusion among the citizenry.
Bamidele’s motion to welcome the guests was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and the Sergeant-at-arms led them into the chamber,
Just as the guests were taking their seats, former Senate Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume strongly objected to the decision.
He noted that the Tax Reform Bill was not on the Order Paper and that the Senate rules prohibit discussions on matters not listed on the Order Paper without proper procedural adjustments.
He said, “This is a very important matter, and we must follow the rules. “ Ndume warned that circumventing protocol undermines legislative integrity.
He urged the Senate to ensure proper representation of Nigerians’ interests, stressing the bill’s significance in the face of public concerns.
Ndume insisted that the matter was too important to be manipulated and that the Senate should not play around with the Tax Reform Bill, as Nigerians have spoken.
He said, “This is a very important matter. We should not try to use the Senate’s position because the Order Paper is clear. I have no problem having them come to explain, but we must follow known procedures.
“If that has to be taken today, then a supplementary Order Paper must reflect this. It is not a matter that you will just come and tell us after we are doing business of the day. Mr President, you can have your way, but I will have my say. You can use your gavel, and I will use my voice.
“The Tax Reform Bill is compassionate. This matter has dominated our people. When you say it is a matter of urgent national importance, yes, but even those matters normally refer to another legislative day if they are so inconvenient.
“Please, I beg you, in the name of God. This matter is very important to us and the Nigerians we represent, and we swear by the Bible and Holy Quran that we will represent the people’s interest. Nigerians have spoken, the Governors, the National Economic Council.”
Despite Ndume’s objections, Barau defended the decision, insisting the Senate acted within the rules and dismissing the argument as unnecessary rhetoric.
His remarks ignited tensions, causing the session to become chaotic.
Barau eventually restored order by ruling Ndume out of order and allowing the federal government officials to proceed with their presentation.
He insisted that the Senate’s actions were within its rules, adding that the “Chamber has no time for rhetoric.”
He said, “You have made your point; we are not here for rhetoric. We are here for facts.”
At this point, the chamber went rowdy while the Deputy Senate President tried to restore order.
Ndume was eventually ruled out of order, and the visitors were allowed into the hallowed chamber to speak on the proposed Tax Reform Bill.
The team told the federal lawmakers that tax reform bills are four different pieces of legislation that seek to bring everything about taxation and tax administration in Nigeria under four different pieces of legislation.
The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
They explained that the bills contain all major taxes imposed on individuals and companies and are like a compendium of taxes charged in Nigeria.
They said that contrary to what some mischievous persons are pushing, they are meant to transform tax administration in Nigeria for greater efficiency radically.
They said the bills would update archaic tax laws and simplify our complicated tax ecosystem.
Apart from these, they said the tax reforms clearly favour low-income earners and small businesses, which will be exempt from paying income taxes.
The bills, they said, are pro-poor, pro-growth, and pro-efficiency.
Therefore, they urged the senators to support its passage to move the country forward.
