The Senate was thrown into a rowdy session on Wednesday, following the decision of its leadership to admit the federal government’s team driving the landmark tax reform bills with tax breaks for the poor and vulnerable, into the red chamber.
Trouble started when Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, announced that there were visitors who would be coming to the chamber to brief the legislators on the proposed tax reform bills.
Bamidele, at the session presided by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, invoked Order 12 (1) to suspend the senate rules, and seek permission for the guests to enter the chamber and address the senators.
The visitors included Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji; Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.
The senator for 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 recognised 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 the suspension of the Order 12 to admit the people.
Barau noted Ningi’s point of order but said the essence of inviting the visitors was to educate Nigerians through the senate on the controversial tax reform bills to avoid confusion among the citizenry.
Bamidele’s motion to welcome the guests was seconded by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and before the Serjeant-at-arms led the visitors into the chamber.
But just as the guests were taking their seats, former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume objected strongly to the decision to let them in.
Ndume said the Tax Reform Bill was not on the Order Paper and the senate rules prohibited discussions on matters not listed on the order paper without proper procedural adjustments.
“This is a very important matter, and we must follow the rules,” Ndume stated, warning 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 the senate should not in any way play around the tax reform bill as Nigerians had spoken.
He stated, “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.
“I have no problem whatsoever having them come and explain, but we must follow known procedures.
“That is if it has to be taken today, then there be must a supplementary Order Paper that will reflect this.
“It is not a matter that you will just come and tell us after we are doing business of the day.”
Ndume declared, “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 are normally referred 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 swear by the Bible and Holy Quran that we will represent the interest of the people.
“Nigerians have spoken, the governors, the National Economic Council.”
Despite Ndume’s objections, Barau defended the decision to allow the tax team into the chamber, insisting that the senate acted within the rules. He dismissed Ndume’s argument as an unnecessary rhetoric.
His remarks ignited tension, 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 whatever the senate was doing was within its rules, adding that the “chamber has no time for rhetoric”.
He said, “You have made your point, now, 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.
Having ruled Ndume out of order, the visitors were allowed into the chamber to speak on the proposed tax reform bill.
The team told the federal lawmakers that the tax reform bills were four different pieces of legislation that sought to bring everything about taxation and administration of tax 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 contained all major taxes imposed on individuals and companies and it was just like a compendium of taxes charged in Nigeria.
They said, contrary to what some persons were pushing out there, the bills were meant to radically transform tax administration in Nigeria for greater efficiency.
They said the bills would update archaic tax laws and simplify the country’s complicated tax ecosystem.
The team said the tax reforms clearly favoured the low income earners and small businesses, which will be exempted from paying income taxes.
They said the bills were simply pro-poor, pro-growth and pro-efficiency. They urged the senators to support its passage in order to move the country forward.
Sunday Aborisade
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