Chaos Erupts In Senate As FIRS Boss And Tax Reform Chairman Present Tax Bill Update

Chaos Erupts In Senate As FIRS Boss And Tax Reform Chairman Present Tax Bill Update

Tensions erupted in the Senate on Wednesday after a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to suspend the rules and allow Zaccheus Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential...READ MORE…

Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, to speak before the chamber.

Bamidele argued that their presence was necessary to clarify the ongoing debates surrounding the controversial Tax Reform Bill, which has generated widespread reactions across Nigeria.

However, the motion faced strong opposition from Senators Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), who criticized the suspension of Order 12 of the Senate’s rulebook, which dictates who is allowed to address the chamber during plenary sessions.

Ningi objected to the idea of having the officials speak during a full Senate session, suggesting they should be invited to a meeting of the Appropriations Committee instead. “The Senate floor is not the place for this,” Ningi argued.

Ndume also opposed the motion, stating that the two officials’ appearance had not been listed on the day’s order paper, which he considered a breach of Senate protocol. He accused Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin of manipulating the proceedings to favor the motion. “The order paper governs our activities; you cannot override it,” Ndume declared.

In response, Bamidele clarified that the motion sought only to temporarily suspend Order 12, citing Order 1b, which allows for such suspensions on matters of national importance. “This is a crucial issue for Nigerians, and they deserve to hear directly from these officials,” Bamidele emphasized.

After a heated debate, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin ruled in favor of the motion, stressing the need for transparency and inclusivity in addressing the Tax Reform Bill. “This affects Nigerians directly, and we must ensure the process is as open as possible,” Barau said, permitting Adedeji and Oyedele to address the Senate.

Despite Barau’s ruling, Ndume demanded an apology for the Deputy Senate President’s earlier comment that described his objections as “rhetorics,” but this request was dismissed. Although Ndume, Ningi, and other lawmakers initially attempted to walk out in protest, they eventually returned to their seats after interventions from their colleagues.

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