The lingering controversy over President Tinubu’s tax bills caused a row in the Senate today as Sen. Ndume slammed Deputy Speaker Barau
Senate plenary on Wednesday escalated into a heated argument and shouting match as the controversial tax bills were introduced for debate, despite its absence from the order paper.
The disagreement began when Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raised Order 12(1), suspending senate rules to permit two tax experts, the Director General, Budget office, Tanimu Yakubu and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji to clarify the bills.
Deputy President of the Senate Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, supported Bamidele’s motion. It was subsequently approved that they be escorted into the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms.
However, this decision drew strong opposition from Sen. Ali Ndume who cited senate rules that prohibit visitors from addressing the chamber on issues not listed on the order paper. Ndume argued that the tax bill was too critical to be handled casually and stressed the importance of adhering to legislative procedures to protect Nigerians’ interests.
He said, “It is clear that the business of the day should be according to the order paper. The order paper does not contain this. We swear by the Bible and by the Quran that we will represent the interests of the people.”
Countering Ndume, Barau said, “You have made your point. We are not here for rhetorics. We are acting on facts.”
Ndume who did not pay attention to Barau’s response kept saying, “You will have your way and I will have my say. You will use the gavel but i will use my voice.
“You are sitting there saying it is rhetorics. Are you saying, Mr. President, that a senator is rhetorical? Is that fair to yourself? You can rule me out of order?”
It was at this point Barau muted Ndume’s microphone and referred him to a section on the senate rules saying, “I refer you to order 1b which reads as follows, “In all cases, not provided for in this standing order or by session or other orders or practice of the senate, the senate shall by resolution regulate its procedure.” This is what we have just done. This is a resolution that was just passed. You need them to have known what we have done. I therefore, rule you out of order.”
Ndume who could no longer contain his anger, packed up his belonging and stormed out of the chamber.
Barau thereafter said, “This distinguished Senator Ndume has been the one clamouring for openness in this arrangement. We want to be open. We want Nigerians to know what is going on here. We are trying to make everything open. Why are you saying you don’t want that to be done? This is wrong.”
However, it was not up to a minute before Ndume returned to the chamber to take his seat.
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OrderPaper recalls that this is not the first time that Ndume who is known to be a very controversial lawmaker has publicly challenged his colleagues including the Senate President Godswill Akpabio on how he handles affairs in the red chambers, stating that it is against the rules.
