Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC), threatening to leave the party over the four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume made the statement during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, just hours after the Senate passed the bills for a second reading.
In October, President Tinubu urged the National Assembly to consider and pass several critical bills, including the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration bill, and the Nigeria Tax bill.
The Borno senator, a staunch critic of the proposals, voiced his concerns about their potential impact, joining a growing chorus of opposition, particularly from northern governors.
During the television interview, Ndume expressed his loyalty to President Tinubu, stating that he is “close” to the president and does not want to see him fail.
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However, he made it clear that his opposition to the tax reforms could lead him to take drastic steps, including leaving the APC, if the bills move forward.
“If not, look, I can leave the party,” Ndume said.
“When you say those earning N800,000 below do not pay VAT – on what? Do you exclude him from paying VAT from the goods that he will buy in the market? And then the corporate tax goes up.
“Now they transfer the cost or the taxes over to the consumer. So, are you helping him?
“Even today, the price of cement goes up and that means consumers will have to pay more. If you tax Dangote for his refined products, it means he will add that cost to the cost per litre.
“So, if you are saying if you’re earning below N800,000 you will not pay tax, what of those people that are below that level.”
The senate is expected to hold a public hearing on the bills in the coming weeks.
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