News
Why we insist Tax Reform Bills be withdrawn —Ndume
…Says North is not parasitic
Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has reiterated his call for the withdrawal of the Tax Reform Bills currently before the Senate, stressing the need for broader consultations and critical adjustments to address stakeholders’ concerns.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Ndume dismissed claims suggesting that northern Nigeria is parasitic, emphasizing that all regions of the country are interdependent for collective survival and growth.
“I’m still insisting that the Tax Reform Bills be withdrawn for more consultations and buy-in from critical stakeholders, including state and local governments, as well as the private sector,” Ndume said.
He described as naïve the notion that the proposed reforms are targeted at northern interests, arguing instead that the bills, in their current form, would disproportionately affect low- and middle-income Nigerians across the country.
Ndume criticized the timing of the bills, highlighting the prevailing economic hardship in the country. He warned that implementing the reforms without addressing fundamental issues would further burden already struggling Nigerians.
“Those who think the current tax reforms are only against northern interests are mistaken. The reality is that the reforms, as they stand, will negatively impact low- and middle-income Nigerians nationwide,” he said.
The senator called for improved fiscal responsibility, urging the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to focus on expanding the tax net and improving transparency in revenue collection.
“The FIRS should concentrate on expanding the tax net and collecting more revenue efficiently. Transparency and accountability must also be increased,” Ndume stated.
He also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to closely monitor commercial banks, ensuring they contribute their fair share of taxes, especially given their consistently high profit declarations.
The Tax Reform Bills propose the establishment of the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman as part of President Bola Tinubu’s comprehensive tax reform strategy.
However, Ndume expressed reservations about the bills, pointing out concerns related to timing, derivation principles, Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution, and the lack of widespread consensus.
“Yes, reforms are necessary, but they must be well-timed, prioritized, and carried out with the buy-in of Nigerians. This is a democracy—a government of the people, for the people, and by the people,” he added.
Ndume argued that governance reforms, rather than just tax reforms, should take priority. He criticized the high cost of governance, noting that a significant portion of Nigeria’s annual budget is consumed by personnel and overhead costs.
“Our personnel and overhead expenditure for 2024 account for about 50 to 60 percent of the budget. Meanwhile, capital projects suffer from under-implementation, while recurrent expenditure is fully exhausted,” he said.
He stressed that reform efforts should be holistic, involving both the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
Addressing claims of the North being parasitic, Ndume firmly rejected the notion, stating:
“The North was, is, and will never be a parasite or dependent on any region or even the country. We are assets, not liabilities, to Nigeria.”
The senator concluded by emphasizing the need for responsible governance and collaborative efforts to achieve meaningful reforms that serve all Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries over the discovery of another fake agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The affected PS are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
The President also ordered the arrest of one George Buchi Nwabueze.
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Friday after briefing the President for the second time in two days, following an earlier meeting on Thursday.The
Aliyu said the newly uncovered fake office, operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” had been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the OSGF, contrary to extant laws and without presidential authorisation.
He said the discovery emerged in the course of the commission’s broader investigation, as earlier directed by the President.
The ICPC boss identified the promoter of the fake office as one George Nwabueze, who was said to be operating under multiple aliases.
“The fake agency office, National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was promoted by one George Buchi Nwabueze, with active suspected collaborators in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to extant laws and without authorisation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The promoter was discovered to also operate under four other variations of his name: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze,” Aliyu said.
He revealed that the ICPC had engaged the OSGF to ascertain vital information relating to the fake office under investigation, and had comprehensively briefed the President on the new developments.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” he said.
Aliyu said following the discovery, “Mr President has directed as follows: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate suspension of the following permanent secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah,” he said.
Friday’s development is the latest in a scandal that began with the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, is currently facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation.
The ICPC’s interim report, submitted to the President on August 6 after a 30-day investigation, had earlier disclosed the existence of two other fictitious bodies, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office is the fourth fake agency uncovered after the PFIFC scandal since early April.
Tension and grief have enveloped the political community in Enugu State following the suspected murder of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairman in Udenu Local Government Area, Chisimdiri Emmanuel Ngwu.
Ngwu, said to be one of the longest-serving members of the ADC in the state, was reportedly found dead in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in circumstances suspected to be suspicious.
A family source, who spoke to our correspondent, said Ngwu left the house shortly after waking up on Wednesday morning but never returned alive.
“He woke up early in the morning on Wednesday and walked out and that was the last we heard of him,” the source said.
According to the source, the family became worried after discovering that Ngwu was missing, before his lifeless body was later found outside the compound.
“When we woke up, we didn’t see him only to discover his lifeless body in front of our compound. We saw scratches on his neck which was twisted backwards,” the source added.
The circumstances surrounding his death have continued to generate concern among family members, friends and political associates.
Meanwhile, two persons have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident.
However, their identities and the circumstances surrounding their arrest were not immediately disclosed as of press time.
The development has reportedly sent shock waves through the ADC in Udenu and the wider political community in the state, with calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ngwu’s death.
Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has claimed that President Bola Tinubu will relocate the capital of Nigeria to Lagos if he is declared the winner of the 2027 general elections.
Primate Ayodele made this statement in a video posted on X.
President Tinubu is seeking re-election under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking about Tinubu’s re-election, the cleric said, “Lagos architecture will change. You may not see this one very seriously, but if Tinubu wins the second time, the capital of Nigeria will be relocated to Lagos.
“When this happens, the capital can be in Epe or Lekki or anywhere at all in Lagos.”
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