Tax reform bills: Ndume’s objection academic – Senator Monguno

The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Monguno, has disagreed with Borno South senator, Ali Ndume, over the tax reform bills.

Monguno said Ndume’s submission calling for the withdrawal of the tax reform bill is purely academic and should not be considered by the Senate.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Monguno insisted that it is not the procedure of the Senate.

He voiced his support for the bills.

According to Monguno: “With all due respect to Ndume and all the experience of lawmaking, I very much agree with him that this bill should be withdrawn first and consultations should be held with the Nigerian governors’ forum and traditional rulers.

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“We have a procedure which is clearly unambiguously stated in our rule book for the process of lawmaking and the constitution gave us the powers to regulate our proceedings.

“This procedure that Ndume has suggested is foreign to the process of legislative exercise and is purely academic, which should not be considered.

“It’s an academic exercise not worthy of legislative consideration, so Mr President, having said that, my contribution to the general principles of the bill is that this bill as proposed is novel and trying to reduce the tax burden on Nigerians. I support that this bill should go for a second reading.

“This bill is novel and is for the people because it is trying to reduce the tax burden on Nigerians.”