Tinubu’s tax reform bills “Dead on Arrival” in NASS, Says Ndume

-urge Tinubu to withdraw the bill immediately

November 06, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

A federal lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has declared President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills “dead on arrival” at the National Assembly.

Ndume’s constituents are strongly opposed to the Value Added Tax (VAT) bill, and he urges President Tinubu to withdraw the bills immediately.

Ndume argued that Nigerians are not willing to pay more taxes, considering the current economic situation. “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,” he stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.

“The tax reform bills have faced substantial criticism, with some state Governors urging President Tinubu to withdraw them” He said.

His words, “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,” indicating that he has started rallying support among colleagues to reject the bills.”

“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,” he said.

“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.”

However, the President has expressed openness to “inputs and necessary changes” from lawmakers, but refuses to withdraw the bills.

While some argue that the tax reform bills will benefit the country, others see them as an unnecessary strain on already struggling Nigerians.