Senator Ali Ndume has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bill, describing it as “dead on arrival” due to significant resistance from Northern leaders. Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Ndume emphasized that the Northern Governors’ Forum and traditional rulers are firmly against the bill, which they believe disproportionately targets the northern region.
Ndume criticized the administration’s approach, urging President Tinubu to focus on governance reforms instead of imposing additional taxes on Nigerians already facing economic difficulties. “Our people don’t want the VAT bill; they don’t even want to hear about it,” Ndume stated. He advised the president to heed the counsel of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum, urging for an immediate withdrawal of the bill.
The senator argued that while Nigerians are willing to pay taxes, it is unfair to impose new burdens on people who are already struggling. “Let people live first before you start asking them for taxes,” he remarked.
Ndume also revealed that he is working to rally support among his colleagues to block the bill. He reiterated the opposition of Northern governors and traditional rulers, concluding that the most sensible course of action is for the government to withdraw the proposal and engage the public to provide a clearer understanding of its implications.
