Senator Ali Ndume has declared the proposed tax reform bill by President Bola Tinubu’s administration “dead on arrival,” citing strong opposition from Northern leaders.
In a recent interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Ndume explained that Northern leaders see the bill as harmful to the region’s interests and criticized its potential impact on struggling Nigerians.
Ndume expressed disappointment that President Tinubu, instead of prioritizing governance reforms, is seeking to implement an additional tax burden on the public. He urged the president to reconsider, emphasizing that the Northern Governors’ Forum had already advised withdrawing the bill. “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,” he said.
The senator noted that while Nigerians are generally willing to contribute through taxes, they currently lack the financial stability to bear further taxes. “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,” he asserted.
Ndume hinted that he was rallying support from other legislators to block the bill and urged the president to focus on informing and educating the public before introducing new financial policies. “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 concluded.
