Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno South, has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, threatening to dump the party over the four contentious tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume’s comments, made on Thursday night during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, came just hours after the Senate passed the bills for second reading.
The senator, who has been a vocal critic of the proposed reforms, expressed his frustration with the bills, which he believes will have a negative impact on ordinary Nigerians. “If not, look, I can leave the party,” Ndume said, emphasizing his commitment to opposing the bills. “I am close to Tinubu and do not want to see him fail, but these bills are not helping the people.”
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Ndume’s concerns center on the proposed exemptions for individuals earning below N800,000 annually. He argued that this exemption does not necessarily benefit low-income earners, as companies will simply pass on the increased taxes to consumers. “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,” Ndume explained.
The senator also cited the example of Dangote, a prominent Nigerian business conglomerate, to illustrate his point. “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?” Ndume asked.
The governors in the northern part of the country have also expressed opposition to the proposed tax reforms. The Senate is expected to hold a public hearing on the bills in the coming weeks, which will likely intensify the debate over the proposed reforms.
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