The Borno South senator, Ali Ndume says the National Assembly does not need to study the tax reform bills sent by President Bola Tinubu before rejecting them.
Recall that in October, Tinubu asked the National Assembly to consider and pass four Tax Reform Bills, including the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, opposed the bills, while the National Economic Council, NEC, urged the President to withdraw them for further consultations.
However, Tinubu said the bills would not be withdrawn.
He said the National Assembly could make amendments as they deem necessary.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Ndume said he had not studied the tax reform bills.
But he noted that the timing of the bills, considering the economic situation in the country, does not make sense to him.
“I can tell you that it will be dead on arrival. We don’t need to study the bill,” he said.
“The general thing is that Nigerians are not willing to talk, hear or pay any tax now considering the situation we have faced because this is the government of the people.
“Right now, people can’t even afford what to eat. People are struggling to survive.
“Let people live first before you start asking them for tax,” he said.
