Senate session turns rowdy as procedural disputes arise over the Tax Reform Bill

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.