News
Reps In Rowdy Session Over Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills
It was a rowdy session in the House of Representatives plenary, yesterday, following the declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills by the spokesman of the Green Chamber, Mr Akin Rotimi.
Rotimi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, incurred the wrath of his colleagues when he stood up to present two reports on behalf of the Chairman, Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, Boma Goodhead, who was absent at yesterday’s plenary.
The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary, recognised Rotimi as conducting the brief exercise.
Rotimi chose to inform his colleagues about the stand of Ekiti federal lawmakers on the controversial four tax bills transmitted to the parliament on September 3, 2024.
He said, “Mr Speaker, I am from Ekiti State, the first state whose National Assembly caucus has unanimously endorsed the tax bills.”
Members present at plenary did not allow him to complete his sentence as shouts of “No, no thereafter”, rented the air.
Repeated appeals by the speaker to restore order failed, as members vowed that the report would not be laid.
The Speaker waded in, saying “He is expressing his personal opinion”, just as the Ekiti lawmaker reminded his colleagues that he had the protection of the presiding officer.
Abbas’ remark that “He (Rotimi) was just talking on a lighter note. Let’s not take it seriously,” failed to calm frayed nerves.
Rotimi continued, “My introduction does not affect the substantive matter,” just as the speaker urged him to be restricted “to the person you are representing here. We are not talking about tax bills.”
With barely any way out for him, Rotimi said, “Hon colleagues, I withdraw the introduction. Mr Speaker, I withdraw the introduction. I will introduce myself properly. Mr Speaker, can I have the opportunity to speak?”
Abbas thereafter took over, saying “Mr Rotimi, you know this (tax bill) is a controversial issue. I don’t want you to be mentioning things that are not relevant to the subject matter. On your behalf, I withdraw that statement that you have made.”
With a semblance of order in place, Rotimi again stood up, saying, “Hon, colleagues, I would like to withdraw that introduction and restrict myself to the Order Paper.”
He later introduced himself without a word on the tax bills and laid a background of the report he was to present on behalf of Goodhead.
That said, the speaker asked for a seconder only for members to revert to the shouting mode, forcing the Speaker to again call for caution.
“I beg you. This has nothing to do with the tax bills,” Abbas pleaded repeatedly, all to no avail.
With all options exhausted, Rotimi took to the floor once again.
“I seek the leave of the Speaker and Hon members to step down the report,” he said.
Like Rotimi, the deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese also had his dose of trouble when Kano lawmaker, Tijjani Ghali, standing on a matter of personal explanation (Order 6 rule 5), called on the former to resign from his position.
He said, “I woke up this morning to see an online publication from the deputy spokesman, saying that those opposed to tax reform bills are seeking speedy passage. I am one of the first persons that opposed these bills vehemently but the deputy spokesperson did not contact me as a stakeholder and did not seek my opinion on this.
“The heading is insinuating that for those who opposed these tax bills, there is an inducement somewhere. Therefore, I am calling for the withdrawal of this statement and an investigation and apology in print media because this is injurious to me, my people, my religion and the region where I come from.
“Mr Speaker, this is a breach of privilege and is unprofessional, unethical and immoral. Therefore, I am personally calling (chorus, we are calling) for this matter to be investigated to find out those people opposed to the bills that are now asking for their speedy passage.”
The member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Katsina State, Sada Soli, moved that the matter be referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation.
Ruling on the matter, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, promised action, stating “Once a point of privilege is moved, it is not debated. You have asked for this to be investigated. But you did not tell whether to move it to ethics and privileges and that is why Sada Soli came with his own. It is not in your prayer. There are many ways to investigate this.”
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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