Wednesday’s Senate session turned into a heated exchange of words when the controversial Tax Reform Bill was brought up for discussion, despite not being listed on the day’s Order Paper.
The conflict began when Senate Leader Michael Bamidele Opeyemi proposed suspending the Senate Rules under Order 12(1) to allow the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to provide clarification on the Tax Reform Bill. This motion was backed by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who was presiding over the session. It was then approved that the FIRS Chairman and other tax experts be allowed to enter the chamber.
The move sparked immediate outrage from Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who objected, pointing to the Senate Rules that require any subject of discussion to be listed on the Order Paper. Ndume emphasized that visitors, such as the FIRS officials, are not permitted to speak unless the matter has been formally scheduled for debate.
He voiced his concerns forcefully, stating: “This is a very important matter. We should not try to manipulate the process. The Order Paper is clear. If we are to discuss this today, a supplementary Order Paper should reflect it. It is not something we can just bring up casually.”
Ndume further argued that the Tax Reform Bill was a sensitive issue that had garnered significant public attention and debate. “Nigerians have spoken, the governors, the National Economic Council have all weighed in on this matter,” he said. “We cannot proceed without following due process.”
Deputy Senate President Barau, however, maintained that the Senate had the authority to take action as deemed necessary, adding, “We are not here for rhetoric, we are here for facts.”
The disagreement escalated, with the chamber descending into chaos as Barau struggled to regain control of the session. Ultimately, Ndume was ruled out of order, and the FIRS Chairman and other tax experts were permitted to present their views on the Tax Reform Bill.
