The representative of Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Ali Ndume, has stated that the tax reform bills sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu are “dead on arrival”.
Ndume said this on a Channels Television programme: “Politics Today,” where answered questions on the controversial bills.
The Eagle Online recalls that the National Economic Council, headed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, with the 36 state governors and others as members, had advised the President to drop the bills.
However, Tinubu told Shettima and others to allow the bill to be debated at the public sitting by the National Assembly.
Ndume told Politics Today on Monday: “Our people are saying they don’t want the VAT bill.
“They don’t even want to hear about it.
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“That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival.”
The lawmaker to President Tinubu to heed the advice of the NEC and Northern Governors’ Forum and withdraw the bills immediately.
Ndume said: “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.”
Ndume, a member of the All Progressives Congress, said Tinubu should focus on reforming his administration rather than increasing taxes.
He said: “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.”
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