The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday witnessed an intense confrontation during plenary as tempers flared over the sudden introduction of the Tax Reform Bill, a move that sparked a shouting match among lawmakers.
Trouble started when the Senate leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion for the suspension of Senate rules to allow Oyedele and his team members access into the chamber.

But a former deputy Senate leader, Abdul Ningi, was swift in raising objections.

Citing order 12 of the Senate Standing rules, Ningi said there was no provision that allows non-senators to enter the chamber while the session is on.

Deputy president of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary session, over ruled Ningi stating that the experts were invited to allow for open discussion on the matter.

As soon as Ningi took his seat, another loud voice shouting ‘point of order’ was heard.

It was the voice of a former Senate majority leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume.

He said it was an aberration to have strangers in the chamber without a provision in the order paper for that purpose.

The situation degenerated to exchange of hot words between the two senators and Jibrin to the extent that business of the Senate was halted and delayed for some time.

The use of the word rhetoric by Jibrin worsen matters as Ndume raised another point of order drawing attention to use of unparliamentary words.

He was ruled out of order by Jibrin who said the word was used in general sense.

The session, escalated after Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele invoked Order 12(1) to suspend regular Senate rules and permit tax experts, including the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to address the chamber.
However, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume vehemently opposed the motion, arguing that the bill was not listed on the Order Paper and that proper legislative procedure was being sidestepped.

“This is a very important matter. We must follow the rules,” Ndume asserted, emphasizing that the Tax Reform Bill’s sensitive nature required strict adherence to established protocols.
He called for the inclusion of the bill on a supplementary Order Paper to ensure transparency.

Despite Ndume’s objections, Barau defended the Senate’s actions, dismissing concerns as unnecessary rhetoric.
The confrontation led to a rowdy chamber, with voices raised in protest. Ultimately, Ndume was ruled out of order, and the tax experts were allowed to speak on the bill.

The heated exchange underscored the growing tension surrounding the Tax Reform Bill, which has drawn widespread public interest and concern over its potential impact on Nigeria’s economy.

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday hosted a historic visit by His Excellency Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of China. The visit, the first of its kind by a Chinese parliamentary leader, was warmly received by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who called for deeper bilateral relations between the two nations.
Akpabio described the occasion as a milestone in Nigeria-China relations, highlighting decades of collaboration since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971.
He noted the significance of the visit, which coincided with Nigeria’s recent celebration of the 25th anniversary of its space program, as a symbol of shared aspirations for progress.

“Your Excellency, this visit is historic and reaffirms the enduring friendship and mutual respect between our two nations. Together, we can deepen this partnership for the benefit of our people,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President commended China for its role in Africa’s economic transformation, particularly in infrastructure and trade. He cited China’s position as Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner, with trade volumes reaching $292 billion in 2023.
Akpabio acknowledged China’s support for Nigeria, including over $3.1 billion in infrastructure loans disbursed between 2013 and 2022, which revitalized critical sectors such as railways, ports, and airports.

While expressing gratitude, Akpabio urged China to increase aid and investment in Nigeria, especially in light of economic challenges.
“We call on China to enhance its support for Nigeria through increased aid flows and expanded investments that will further strengthen our economies,” he said.

Akpabio emphasized the importance of legislative collaboration and proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group to foster dialogue and exchange ideas.

“Nigeria and China can learn from each other’s legislative systems to improve governance and deepen democratic relations. Stronger inter-parliamentary ties will enhance mutual understanding and cooperation,” he stated.

Akpabio called for joint ventures that would leverage Nigeria’s vast resources and dynamic population to foster innovation and development. He stressed that the partnership should extend beyond trade to cultural and social bonds that uplift citizens in both countries.

“As we forge ahead, let us work on projects that transform lives and modernize our nations. Together, we can create a legacy of cooperation that echoes through generations,” Akpabio remarked.

The Senate President concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with China. He cited an African proverb, “If you want to go far, go together,” as a reflection of the shared journey toward mutual progress.

The visit by Zhang Qingwei is expected to open new avenues for collaboration in trade, infrastructure, and legislative governance, reinforcing the long-standing friendship between Nigeria and China.

***Bill Passes Second Reading, Aims to Boost Local Agriculture, Save Foreign Exchange

A bill seeking to mandate the inclusion of high-quality cassava flour in edible wheat flour production has passed its second reading at the Senate.
Sponsored by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara South), the bill proposes that all producers of edible flour in Nigeria or those importing wheat flour include at least 20% cassava flour in their products.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, directing it to report back within four weeks.
Leading the debate, Senator Mustapha highlighted the need to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on imported wheat, which costs the nation over $3 billion annually.
He emphasized that the over-reliance on wheat imports negatively impacts the economy by creating trade imbalances, depleting foreign reserves, and fostering food dependency.

“By including cassava in wheat flour production, this bill will reduce import costs, stimulate job creation in agriculture, and enhance Nigeria’s cassava market share in foreign exchange earnings,” Mustapha stated.
The bill received overwhelming support from senators, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who described it as being in the “national interest.” Jibrin argued that implementing the cassava-wheat blend would increase cassava production, boost farmers’ incomes, and conserve foreign exchange.

“This legislation will enforce the inclusion of cassava in flour production, as bakers have previously refused to adhere despite expert studies proving its benefits,” Jibrin said. “It’s simple—using 20% cassava will cut our wheat import costs and help the economy.”

Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan recalled initiatives by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to promote cassava bread, urging the current government to embrace economic diversification through agricultural innovation.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Mustapha, also noted that enforcing cassava inclusion in flour production would alleviate poverty through job creation in the agricultural sector and enhance cassava farming
It will alsobStrengthen food security and drive economic growth.

If enacted, the bill could revolutionize the agriculture sector by increasing cassava demand and reducing Nigeria’s wheat import dependency, aligning with the government’s efforts to diversify the economy and promote local production.

The Senate is expected to review the Committee on Agriculture’s report in the coming weeks.