The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has stated that his stance remains the same on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.

Lawmaker had earlier condemned the timing of the bills, arguing that the focus should be on governance reforms before tax reforms.

Speaking further on the situation during an interview with Punch, Ndume insisted that the withdrawal of the bill is the best decision for the executive to allow for wider consultation.

He said, “This issue of VAT and derivation is one of the major issues in the bills. Also, why introduce a taxing system instead of solving critical issues like problems with the budget?”

He further explained that the country spent over 50 per cent of its budget on recurrent expenditure and debt servicing.

“Yes, reform. But even with reforms, you have to prioritise, time it correctly, and ensure the buy-in of Nigerians because this is a democracy. It is the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. We should be looking at cutting down our recurrent expenditure if we are trying to save money, not tax.

“I have studied this thing. I have given it to the professionals, even the lecturers of those who are promoting it, those people who taught them. I approached some of them and they said ‘Look, this tax reform is good, it is good to do tax reform but the timing is wrong,” he said.

Ndume added, “The introduction of the tax bills at the time is an unneeded distraction to the country. It is just unnecessarily heating the polity. That is why I am advocating that the executive withdraw the bills, consult wider, and take out the parts that clash with the Constitution.

“They are just confusing themselves with these bills that contradict the Constitution. So, seeing all of their errors, I think that they should just withdraw the bills, do the proper things, and resend them to the National Assembly for consideration.”

Ndume argued that Northern senators are not divided, adding that anyone who supports the passage of the bills should come and openly say so.

He said, “We are not divided, Northern senators who are in support of the bills should come out openly and bear their fathers’ names. I have openly expressed my stance on the bills, they also should do the same.

“Even if we, who are opposed to the bills, are in the minority, the majority will have their way, but the minority will have their say.”