|
Listen to article
|
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.
The Eastern Updates recalls 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.
Read Also: NIIA DG: BRICS Growth Won’t Shake UN Foundations
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However, Tinubu said the bills would not be withdrawn.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.
In other news, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, gathering on Wednesday, highlighted the troublingly high under-five and infant mortality rates in Nigeria, noting that despite numerous health initiatives, these figures remain unacceptably high. The governors underscored the importance of intensified efforts to address this persistent health crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma addressed the three-day Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in Abuja, acknowledging some progress in health indicators, particularly concerning under-five and infant mortality. However, he cautioned that these rates remain unacceptably high, signaling that more needs to be done.
“Moreover, we have seen worsening trends in neonatal mortality and malnutrition, these statistics highlight the urgency of our work.
“We must continue to work together, recognising the unique challenges each state faces while maintaining our shared focus on achieving better health outcomes for all Nigerians.
“I would also like to commend the Minister of Health for his continued effort to translate the compact into action.”
He explained that a series of extensive engagements held across all 36 states had played a crucial role in aligning key stakeholders on the objectives of the sector-wide groups, ensuring that all parties are working toward common goals in the health sector.
