Senate Plenary Turns Chaotic Over Debate on Tax Reform Bill

As the contentious Tax Reform Bill emerged for discussion despite not being included in the Order Paper, Wednesday's Senate plenary descended into ire and yelling.

Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, the Senate Leader, began trouble when he used Order 12(1) to suspend Senate Rules so that the Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman could clarify the Tax Reform Bill.

The session was chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who confirmed the Senate Leader's report. The Sergeant-At-Arms gave his approval for the FIRS chairman and other tax specialists to enter the Senate chamber.

This immediately aroused Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume’s anger, as he he drew the attention of the senators to relevant provisions of in the Senate Rules.

Visitors, like the FIRS delegation, are prohibited from speaking in the chamber if their topic was not included in the Order Paper for legislative debate, according to Ndume.

Ndume maintained that the Senate should not in any manner play with the Tax Reform Bill as Nigerians have stated, and that the issue was too significant to be handled in any way.

He stated: “This is a very important matter. We should not in any way try to use the position of the Senate because the Order Paper is clear. I have no problem having them to come to explain whatsoever but we must follow known procedures.

“That is if today that has to be taken, then there must be a supplementary Order Paper that will reflect this. It is not a matter that you will just come and tell us after we are doing business of the day.

“Mr President, you can have your way, but I will have my say. You can use your gavel and I will use my voice. The Tax Reform Bill is very sensitive, our people have been dominated by this matter.

“When you say, it is a matter of urgent national importance, yes, but even those matters normally refer to another legislative day if they are so inconvenient.

“Please I beg you in the name of God. This matter is very important to not only us, but Nigerians that we represent and we swear by the Bible and Holy Quran that we will represent the interest of the people. Nigerians have spoken, the Governors, the National Economic Council.”

In response, Barau stated that the "Chamber has no time for rhetoric" and that any action the Senate chooses to take must adhere to its norms.  At this moment, the Deputy Senate President attempted to bring order back to the raucous chamber.

The FIRS chairman and other tax specialists were permitted to address the chamber to discuss the proposed Tax Reform Bill after Ndume was ultimately declared out of order.