Ndume tells Tinubu, your tax reform bills not good for Nigerians
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“Nigerians are willing to pay taxes but only when they can afford it. Right now, people are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for taxes” – Ndume
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Bola Tinubu should withdraw his Tax Reform Bills as argued by the National Economic Council (NEC) because they are already “dead on arrival” at the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) has counselled the President.
Northern traditional rulers held a meeting with the 19 Northern Governors where both parties rejected the bills and all the 36 Governors in the country and have done so.
The National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima brainstormed the bills and also recommended to Tinubu to shelve the plan, an advice he ignored and pressed on with the bills at the NASS.
Nonetheless, Ndume insisted that “Our people are saying they don’t want the VAT bill, they don’t even want to hear about it. That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival,” urging Tinubu to heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum and withdraw the bills immediately.”
Ndume, a regular critic of Tinubu, over which he lost his job as Senate Chief Whip, bared his mind on Channels Television that the government should look into reducing rather than increasing the tax burden on Nigerians.
“The general sentiment is that Nigerians are not willing to talk about or pay any tax now, considering the economic situation we are in.
“Nigerians are willing to pay taxes but only when they can afford it. Right now, people are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for taxes.
“It will be fair to shut the bill down; it is the fairest thing to do,” he added, stressing that he has started rallying support from fellow lawmakers to reject the bills.
Ndume, a member of Tinubu’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), also urged his administration to focus on reforming itself rather than increasing taxes.
“What he [Tinubu] needs to do is to withdraw the bill, educate Nigerians, and make us understand it. We are representing the people, and they have already made their stance clear.
“The Governors and traditional rulers have said that the bill is not good. So, the best course of action is to withdraw it immediately. Right now, our people don’t want the VAT Bill; they don’t even want to hear about it. That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival.”
The Tax Reform Bills have faced substantial criticism from across the country, with the 36 Governors also urging Tinubu to withdraw them.
However, he has stood his ground that the bills will not be withdrawn but said he is open to “inputs and necessary changes” from lawmakers.
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