Tax bills: Anger in senate as Ndume protests entry of Zacch Adedeji into chamber

There was an uproar in the senate on Wednesday after Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, protested the entry of Zacch Adedeji, chair of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), into the red chamber.

The FIRS chair briefed the lawmakers about the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu. In October, Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.

Adedeji’s briefing was not outlined in the order paper of the upper legislative chamber, and that prompted Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader, to move a motion for the suspension of the senate rules.

In response, while citing the rules of the senate, Ndume said visitors were not allowed into the red chamber to speak if the item was not listed on the order paper.

The senator said there should have been a supplementary order paper to reflect that the senate would receive briefing from Adedeji and other tax experts.

“This is a very important matter. We should not in any way try to use the position of the senate because the order paper is clear,” he said.

“I have no problem having them come to explain whatsoever but we must follow known procedures.

“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 very sensitive, our people have been dominated by this matter.

“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 not only us, but Nigerians that we represent and we swore by the Bible and Holy Quran that we will represent the interest of the people.”

But Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, said the senate was operating within its rules.

“You have made your point. Now we are not here for rhetorics,” Jibrin said.

Before the presiding officer could finish his thoughts, the chamber got rowdy.

It took a while for the deputy senate president to restore order, and the Adedeji was eventually led into the chamber by a sergeant-at-arms official.

Ndume is against the tax bills.

VIDEO: Ndume protests entry of Zacch Adedeji into senate chamber for briefing on tax bills pic.twitter.com/KvfojKZcUi

— TheCable (@thecableng) November 27, 2024

Advertisement