Ali Ndume, the Senator representing Borno South, has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s recent tax reform bills, describing them as “dead on arrival” in the National Assembly.
He urged the President to heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum and withdraw the proposed legislation.
“If it goes on like that, I can tell you that it will be dead on arrival. We don’t need to study the bill,” Ndume stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
Ndume, a veteran lawmaker known for his outspoken views, argued that instead of increasing taxes, the government should focus on alleviating the tax burden on Nigerians.
“The general thing is that Nigerians are not willing to talk about or pay any tax now considering the (economic) situation we are in now,” he explained.
“Nigerians are willing to pay taxes but they can only pay taxes when they can afford it. Right now, people are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for taxes.”
Ndume’s remarks highlight growing concerns about the impact of additional taxation on the public amid challenging economic conditions.
