By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Ali Ndume, the federal lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS), has stated that the tax reform bills sent by President Bola Tinubu are “dead on arrival.”
Ndume explained, “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,” urging President Tinubu to heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum and withdraw the bills immediately.
The lawmaker who made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme argued that the Federal Government should be looking to reduce, rather than increase, the tax burden on Nigerians.
His words, “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,” indicating that he has started rallying support among colleagues to reject the bills.”
Ndume, a member of the President’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), also commented that the Tinubu administration should focus on reforming itself rather than increasing taxes.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The tax reform bills, currently in the National Assembly, have faced substantial criticism, with the 36 state governors urging the President to withdraw them.
However, the President has stated the bills will not be withdrawn, though he is open to “inputs and necessary changes” from lawmakers.