From Abba Dukawa, Abuja
A mild drama unfolded on Wednesday at the National Assembly in Abuja as the Senate attempted to allow members of President Bola Tinubu’s economic team into the chamber to discuss the Tax Reform Bills.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved to suspend Order 12 to allow visitors into the chamber. Bamidele explained that tax experts, consultants, the Director-General of the Budget Office, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacchaeus Adedeji, were invited to explain the Tax Reform Bills to lawmakers in detail.
However, as soon as Bamidele made his submission, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) stood up and cited the Senate’s Order, which lists the titles of those permitted in the Senate plenary. Ningi argued that such discussions were more appropriate at the committee level and should be handed over to the Finance Committee, or possibly the Appropriations Committee, to interface with the economic team.
In response, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North) explained that the Senate had suspended its rules to ensure transparency and allow Nigerians to watch the live proceedings and listen to the debate on the Tax Reform Bills. He then asked Senate Leader Bamidele to address the point raised by Ningi.
Bamidele, acknowledging Ningi’s concerns, clarified, “Mr. President, I listened to the Point of Order raised by the highly respected former leader of the House and Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi. My motion was for suspension, not invocation of Order 12. Order 12 governs those who are privileged to speak in this chamber, as well as exceptions. When a motion is moved for suspension, it means the rule no longer applies.”
He further explained, “In addition to the suspension of Order 12, I am also invoking Order 1B, which allows the Senate to regulate its procedure in the absence of specific provisions. Nigerians need to know, and we also want to hear from these experts.”
After Bamidele’s explanation, Deputy Senate President Barau put the question to a voice vote, and the majority supported the motion, with Barau ruling in favor of the “ayes.”
However, shortly afterward, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) stood up and questioned why such an important matter had not been included in the Order Paper, suggesting it should have been printed or deferred to another legislative day. Barau, in response, emphasized the need to focus on the issue at hand and avoid unnecessary rhetoric, ruling Ndume out of order.
Following the ruling, as members of the economic team were allowed into the plenary, Ndume raised another Point of Order, stating that Barau’s comment calling his remarks “rhetoric” was an insult. He demanded an apology from the Deputy Senate President.
Barau responded with laughter, clarifying that “rhetoric” was not an insult and that his comment was a general statement, not a direct response to Ndume. Once again, Barau ruled Ndume out of order.
The dramatic exchange underscored the tension surrounding the Tax Reform Bills and highlighted the differing views within the Senate on how best to handle such crucial discussions.