The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau and Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume on Wednesday locked horn over the controversial Tax Reform Bills which President Bola Tinubu forwarded to the Chambers for legislative debate.
Anger flared up when the Senate leader, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi announced the presence of Tax consultants and Tax revenue heads from agencies of government to address the Chamber for further clarification on the proposed Tax Reform Bills.
The matter was not captured on the legislative order paper for Wednesday.
Senate Leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi invoked Order 12(1) suspending the Senate Rules to allow the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue and other Tax experts to give clarification on Tax Reform Bill.
Senate Leader’s submission was corroborated by Senator Jibrin Barau and approved that the august visitors be allowed into the Chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms.
This immediately stoke Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume’s anger when he drew the attention of the Chamber to the relevant provision in Senate Rules, arguing that visitors are forbidden to speak to the Chamber if their subject matter was not captured on the Order Paper for legislative debate.
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. 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 there are so inconvenient.
“Please I beg you in the name of God This matter if 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.
Reacting, Jibrin Barau insisted that whatever the Senate was doing was within its rules, adding that the “Chamber has no time for rhetoric.”
He said, “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 hallowed Chamber to speak on the proposed Tax Reform Bill.
The Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, Director General of the Debt Management Office and other consultants were present to address the hallowed Chambers.
