In a recent interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Senator Ali Ndume expressed strong opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bill, predicting it is “dead on arrival.”
According to Ndume, the proposed reforms have sparked significant backlash, particularly among Northern leaders, who view the bill as disproportionately unfavorable to the North.
Ndume emphasized that President Tinubu’s focus should be on streamlining government functions rather than introducing new tax burdens on Nigerians.
He argued that the Northern Governors’ Forum had already voiced concerns and advised the President to reconsider the bill, urging Tinubu to prioritize reforms that support growth and ease economic pressures on citizens.
The senator called on President Tinubu to listen to this feedback and withdraw the bill to pursue a more inclusive approach to economic reform.
Ndume said, “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. President Tinubu should heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum and withdraw the bills immediately.
“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 said it would be fair to shut the bill down, hinting that he had started rallying support among colleagues to reject the bills.
“What he needs to do is to withdraw the bill. Then go back to our people, educate and make us understand. 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,” he added.
(DailyTrust)
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