Tag: Ndume

• Expert lauds tax reform initiative

Former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume and House of Representatives Deputy Spokesman Philip Agbese have traded words over allegations that the recently passed tax laws were altered after the National Assembly’s approval.

Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial District, had alleged during an interview on a national television programme that discrepancies existed between the version of the tax laws the parliament passed and the copy assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The senator claimed that at least two versions had been gazetted.

But addressing reporters at the weekend in Abuja, Agbese dismissed Ndume’s claims as unfounded and misleading.

The Green Chamber’s deputy spokesman insisted that the due legislative process was followed and that there was no falsification of the tax laws.

He said the House had already constituted a committee to review concerns surrounding the legislation, describing suggestions of a cover-up as “sheer mischief”.

Agbese warned that politicising the issue could mislead the public and erode confidence in the National Assembly.

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The House deputy spokesman assured fellow Nigerians that existing legislative mechanisms were adequate to address any genuine errors or ambiguities.

But Ndume, who considered Agbese’s remarks as disrespectful and insulting, said the House deputy spokesman did not have the locus standi to respond to his reaction.

According to him, Agbese was overstepping his role, asking the House leadership to caution him.

Nudme maintained that the matter was still before a committee, led by Muktar Betara.

The Borno South senator said only the panel has the authority to determine whether discrepancies existed or not.

He stated that his concerns were based on a clause-by-clause review of the votes and proceedings, insisting that any differences, however minor, should be transparently examined to reassure Nigerians and protect the integrity of the legislative process.

Also, a tax expert, Olayinka Oyebola, has said the Federal Government’s tax reform is a major overhaul with far-reaching implications for individuals and businesses.

Oyebola, a Chartered Accountant, said the reforms aim to promote fairness, growth and compliance, but noted that their success would depend on effective implementation and public acceptance.

Speaking at a seminar on the implications and compliance requirements of the new tax laws, the chartered accountant emphasised the need for public enlightenment to counter misinformation and build trust among tax-paying citizens.

He highlighted key provisions of the reforms, including the replacement of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), mandatory use of Tax Identification Numbers, enhanced reliefs for small companies, revised VAT administration and strengthened dispute resolution mechanisms.

According to him, while compliance demands would increase, the reforms are designed to deliver a more transparent, technology-driven and equitable tax system capable of funding public services without stifling enterprise.

Former Senate Chief Whip and Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to caution the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, over his comments on the senator’s position regarding the alleged alteration of tax laws.

Ndume was reacting to an interview in which Agbese dismissed his claim that there were discrepancies between the Tax Acts passed by the National Assembly and the version later gazetted and made available to the public.

Agbese had described the allegation as mischievous, insisting that “it is sheer mischief to suggest that the tax laws were falsified.”

In response, Ndume accused the deputy spokesman of playing to the gallery in a bid to curry favour with the leadership of the House, stressing that Agbese lacked the standing to pronounce on the matter.

He said the tax law alteration controversy is still before a committee constituted by the House leadership and noted that the panel, chaired by Rep. Muktar Betara, has yet to submit its report.

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According to Ndume, only the Betara-led committee has the authority to determine, after due investigation, whether there are differences between the version of the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the one subsequently gazetted.

The Borno lawmaker further argued that Agbese’s comments should not be taken seriously, adding that the deputy spokesman does not possess the requisite legislative experience to fully appreciate how parliament handles sensitive issues such as the ongoing tax laws controversy.

“Agbese is forgiven on the grounds of inexperience. He is a first-timer. I was in the House in 2003 when he was probably in secondary school. For him to disrespectfully come out to say that my statement is mischievous is very unfortunate,” he added.

While insisting that Agbese’s remarks were disrespectful, the Borno lawmaker said, “If he has the guts to say that I am mischievous, it means he can tell his father the same thing. At 66, if I’m not old enough to be his father, I am close to that. My first daughter is 40 years-old.

“My position was simply that things should be done the right way. I did not insult anybody. I cross-checked the votes and proceedings, clause by clause, before I said that there were some flaws.

“If the harmonised version says ‘this shall be,’ and the gazetted copy says ‘this will be,’ these are two different things, subject to interpretation.

“For him to use such a strong word on me, I think he’s just trying to be a MAGA dog, which barks even when the master did not ask him to do so.

“I understand the dirty jobs he is doing. He is hoping to find himself in the good books of the leadership of the House, but he has only succeeded in embarrassing himself and the House of Representatives. He is not speaking for the House because the House is yet to take a position on this matter.

“I insist that the parliament should do a comparison and examine the sections of both versions of the Tax Acts. They should simply say, ‘This is what we passed and signed. We should do this section-by-section. This way, Nigerians will be comfortable,” he stressed.

Former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has called on the Federal Government to extend Nigeria’s joint military operations with the United States against terrorist hideouts to the North-East region of the country.

Ndume made the appeal in a statement issued on Saturday, while commending the recent military strikes carried out against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) cells in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

United States President, Donald Trump, had announced the attacks on his Truth Social platform, revealing that the Department of War executed what he described as “numerous perfect strikes” against terrorist targets.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, later confirmed the development, stressing that the U.S. military strikes were conducted with Nigeria’s full cooperation, approval and intelligence support. 

He added that the operation did not violate Nigeria’s sovereignty and was not directed at any religious group.

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, said extending the joint military operations to the North-East would significantly weaken the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram insurgents operating in the region.

“We welcome this cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in targeting terrorist hideouts,” he said. “I am calling on them to extend it to the North-East where ISWAP and Boko Haram have their three known black spots, Lake Chad, the Mandara Mountains and Sambisa Forest, which are exclusive strongholds of these groups.”

He further urged that the military partnership with the United States should go beyond air strikes to include support for ground troops through training, intelligence sharing and logistics, as well as the deployment of attack helicopters to back ground operations.

The federal lawmaker commended President Bola Tinubu for allocating what he described as the highest budgetary provision to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill but insisted on the need for accountability and transparency in the utilisation of the funds.

Reacting to the recent suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which claimed five lives and left many others injured, Ndume expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

“I sympathise with the victims of the bomb blasts in Borno State, where many people were killed and injured,” he said. “The incident at the mosque in Gamboru clearly shows that the terrorists do not care about religion. 

“In this instance, which occurred on the eve of Christmas, all the victims were Muslims. 

“The narrative of religious targeting does not exist. These terrorists are simply bent on making life unbearable for our people and are blind to religion.”

Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the controversy surrounding the newly enacted Tax Reform Acts and suspend their planned implementation in January.

Ndume made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja amid growing claims and counterclaims over the authenticity of the tax laws signed by the president.

He noted that several opposition politicians and civil society organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have raised concerns and called for the suspension of the laws’ implementation pending clarification of the issues.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), warned that the controversies threaten the integrity, transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process. 

According to him, the allegations strike at the core of constitutional governance.

“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process,” Osigwe said.

“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended.”

The controversy intensified last week when a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, drew the attention of the chamber to alleged alterations in the tax laws.

 Dasuki claimed that the version officially gazetted by the Federal Government differed from the final copy passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to President Tinubu for assent.

Reacting, Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, urged the President to constitute an ad hoc committee to verify the veracity of the allegations. 

He warned that proceeding with implementation without resolving the matter could undermine the legitimacy of the laws.

“With the controversy surrounding it, the President should constitute a team to verify the veracity of the claim and act accordingly,” Ndume said.

“As a responsive leader that he has always been, he should examine whether the copy that was signed is the same as what was passed by the National Assembly.”

The former Senate Chief Whip cautioned that failure to address the allegations would prolong the controversy and stall the effective implementation of the tax laws.

“If the issue is not resolved, the controversy will continue. That is to say, the tax law will not be implemented, because you cannot build on nothing,” he added.

Ndume also pointed out that several groups, including civil society organisations, the Arewa community, and the NBA, have called for the withdrawal of the tax laws pending an investigation into the alleged forgery.

He therefore advised the President to suspend implementation while a small investigative committee examines the claims, alongside ongoing efforts by the House of Representatives to probe the matter.

Former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has explained why he participated in the screening of ambassadorial nominees despite earlier urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the list over alleged lopsidedness.

Ndume, who is also a former Chief Whip of the Senate, had faulted the list forwarded to the Senate penultimate week, arguing that it violated Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution which mandates adherence to the federal character principle in appointments.

However, addressing journalists on Sunday, the Borno South senator said he was persuaded by his colleagues on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to take part in the screening and confirmation exercise.

He disclosed that he secured assurances from the committee’s leadership that the Senate’s concerns over the imbalance in the composition of the nominees would be clearly captured in the committee’s report to be transmitted to President Tinubu.

“I still maintain that the list is lopsided,” Ndume said. “At the committee level, I raised a constitutional order and we agreed to proceed with the screening, but in our report we will advise the President that the composition of the remaining nominees should be balanced to address the breach of the federal character principle as enshrined in the Constitution.”

The Borno South senator stressed that states sidelined in the current nominations should be accommodated in the final list to be sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

According to him, Nigeria has 109 foreign missions, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates, which provides enough room to ensure fair representation of all states.

“For non-career ambassadors, each state should have at least one to balance the system, because states like Gombe and Yobe were not captured at all, while some states have only career ambassadors, who are essentially non-political appointees,” he said.

Ndume added that each state could have two or three ambassadors, combining both career and non-career postings, noting that such an arrangement would address concerns of imbalance and constitutional breach.

“We have 194 countries in the world, and with 109 missions, it is possible to ensure equity. This will correct the lopsidedness and uphold Section 14(3) of the Constitution,” he said.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume on Sunday commended the Nigerian Army for the successful rescue of 12 teenage girls abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the Mussa District of Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The victims, aged between 15 and 20, were kidnapped last Sunday while harvesting crops on their family farmlands.

According to a statement by the Nigerian Army, the girls were freed on Saturday following a swift, intelligence-led operation conducted by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in southern Borno. 

The Army added that the rescued victims had been evacuated to a secure facility where they are receiving comprehensive medical care.

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, in a statement issued in Abuja, praised the gallantry and rapid response of the military personnel whose efforts ensured the safe recovery of the girls.

He also lauded the resilience and patriotism of the troops in Borno, acknowledging their determination to push through challenging conditions despite daunting security threats.

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“Over the weekend, men of the Nigerian Army in theatre operation in Borno state achieved another landmark military exercise with the successful rescue of all the 12 abducted teenage girls who had been in captivity.

“That successful operation was another significant statement on professionalism and selflessness.

“I will continue to appeal to the sense of patriotism of men of the Nigerian Army to remain determined to destroy evil forces, driven by vain glorification to cow the rest of us,” Ndume said.

He restated his call on the Federal Government to give priority to adequate funding of the military and review their remuneration in order to boost their morale.

Senator Ali Ndume yesterday called for increased security funding and provision of technological equipment for soldiers to fight terrorism.

He also advised government to cut down some discretionary services, including the activities of the National Assembly, to redirect funds toward tackling rising insecurity

Ndume, who spoke on the Channels Television, suggested that lawmakers could meet on a quarterly basis, adding that compensation to lawmakers can then reflect the adjusted sitting schedule.

He said Nigeria should reduce spending on areas that do not significantly benefit the majority of citizens and focus instead on ensuring public safety.

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Ndume, who represents Borno South, said: “Urgently, we must discard everything as far as I am concerned and even if it is necessary to shut down some discretionary services, starting with the National Assembly. You can cut it off and ask us to sit, maybe in a quarter, for example “

He frowned at the recurrent and overhead costs despite the unresolved 2025 budget.

Ndume said: “We sit for some time, depending on the workload that we have, and are paid accordingly. And now, the 2025 budget is not running; we are in 2025, but the recurrent and overhead costs are running, and who is benefitting?

“Less than five per cent of Nigerians, and it is a lot of money. So, why don’t we shut down all these things and use the money to secure the people first?” he stated.

Acknowledging that his proposal may create friction between him and his colleagues at the National Assembly, Ndume said he was not worried about any potential backlash.

He said he is  long standing legislator, adding: “I have been in trouble before so many times.”

Ndume stressed: “I am not saying you should shut down the National Assembly, let me clear you, and it is not because you have scared me now. What I am saying is realistically, our house is on fire, and we need everything to put that fire out.

“So, if that means the National Assembly will have to reduce their activities so that we pay you less and then use the money to concentrate on security, I am sure many of my colleagues will agree to that,” Ndume added.

The senator raised concerns about the country’s limited technological capacity, lamenting that  Nigeria currently operates only a few satellites, which are insufficient for effective security surveillance.

He expressed worry over the constraints by security agencies who are unable to monitor the activities of terrorists due to inadequate tracking infrastructure.

Ndume said: “You know that one of the fundamental problems we have in the security sector is that we don’t have the ability to track criminals in real time, and the satellite we are talking about, Nigeria has only four and one has issues.”

He also said although the existing satellites provided some capability, they were not enough to address the scale of the security challenges.

Ndume said: “Why were we not able to trace the general who was missing in action? It was because we don’t have adequate tracking systems.”