The Senate was thrown into a rowdy session Wednesday following the decision of its leadership to admit the Federal Government team driving the tax reform bills into the red chamber.
Trouble started when the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, announced that there were visitors who would be coming to the chamber to brief them on the proposed tax reform bills.
Bamidele at the session, presided over by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, invoked Order 12 (1) to suspend the Senate Rules, seeking permission for their guests to enter the chamber and address them.
The visitors included the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji; Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, and the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.
The senator representing 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 recognized 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 actually 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 about the controversial tax reform bills to avoid confusion among the citizenry.
Bamidele’s motion to welcome the guests was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and the Sergeant-at-arms led them into the chamber.
Just as the guests were taking their seats, former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, objected strongly to the decision.
He noted that the Tax Reform Bill was not on the Order Paper, adding that the Senate rules prohibit 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 have spoken.
He said: “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 having them to come to explain whatsoever but we must follow known procedures.
“That is if today that has to be taken, then there 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.
“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 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 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, insisting the Senate acted within the rules, and dismissed the argument as an unnecessary rhetoric.
His remarks ignited tensions, 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”.
According to him, “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.
Ndume was eventually ruled out of order and the visitors were allowed into the chamber to speak on the proposed Tax Reform Bill.
The team told the federal lawmakers that tax reform bills are four different legislations that seek to bring everything about taxation and administration of tax in Nigeria under four different pieces of legislation.
The bills, they said, 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 contain all major taxes imposed on individuals and companies and that it is just like a compendium of taxes charged in Nigeria.
They said contrary to what some mischievous persons are pushing out there, they are meant to radically transform tax administration in Nigeria for greater efficiency.
They said the bills will update archaic tax laws and simplify our complicated tax ecosystem.
Apart from these, they said the tax reforms clearly favour the low income earners and small businesses, which will be exempted from paying income taxes.
The bills, they said, are simply pro-poor, pro-growth and pro-efficiency.
They therefore urged the senators to support its passage in order to move.Adapted from Thisday Newspaper
