The ongoing debate over President Bola Tinubu’s proposed Tax Reform Bills has created a rift among Nigeria’s 36 state governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). These bills, submitted to the Senate and House of Representatives, aim to overhaul the country’s taxation framework but have sparked significant controversy and criticism from various quarters. Key Developments President Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills President Tinubu submitted four tax reform bills on October 3, 2024, following recommendations by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, led by Taiwo Oyedele. These include: Arewa Consultative Forum’s RoleThe Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has formed a committee to evaluate the bills and provide recommendations to the Federal Government. Spokesperson Tukur Muhammad-Baba emphasized the need for broader consultations, urging stakeholders to collaborate with the Senate’s review committee. ConclusionThe proposed Tax Reform Bills have exposed deep divisions among Nigeria’s governors, with regional and political interests complicating consensus. As debates intensify, stakeholders must prioritize dialogue and compromise to ensure the reforms benefit the nation’s fiscal landscape. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently accused Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), of undermining the party with his comments during the Ede Day celebrations. Representing the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abass, at the event in Ede, Doguwa’s remarks were interpreted by some APC members as being overly complimentary towards Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration. This led to a public outcry and a demand for an investigation into his actions, as stated by Kola Olabisi, the Osun APC spokesperson. In response, Doguwa clarified his position on Tuesday, asserting that his comments had been taken out of context. He accused the media team of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun of twisting his remarks to create political tension. “My jokes were misinterpreted to undermine the APC. It’s unfortunate that innocent comments were weaponized for political gain,” he stated. Doguwa extended an apology to the Osun APC, reaffirming his loyalty to the party and expressing optimism about the APC reclaiming Osun State in the 2026 governorship election. “By God’s grace, PDP’s time in Osun is limited. The APC will return stronger in 2026. I deeply regret any misunderstanding my comments may have caused and ask my fellow party members to accept my apology,” Doguwa concluded. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
Kindly Share:
Tony Okocha, the chairman of the Rivers APC, has made it clear that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike will never defect from the PDP to the APC.Despite reports to the contrary, Okocha insisted that Wike and the 27 Rivers lawmakers at odds with Governor Sim Fubara are not APC members.He emphasized that in order for a member to formally join the APC, they need to register in their wards and get membership cards—a need he believes Wike and the lawmakers have failed to fulfill. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to Dr. Tony Okocha, the chairman of the party in Rivers State. APC clarifies Wike’s membership in Rivers crisisAPC discusses Wike’s membership. Photo courtesy of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, and Sir Siminalayi Fubara Tony Okocha, the chairman of the Rivers APC, has made it clear that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike will never defect from the PDP to the APC.Despite reports to the contrary, Okocha insisted that Wike and the 27 Rivers lawmakers at odds with Governor Sim Fubara are not APC members.In response to allegations that Wike left the PDP and joined the APC, he emphasized that before a member may formally join the party, the APC must respond to the following: Amidst their disagreement, Fubara calls on God to punish “corrupt judges.” Speaking to the media on Thursday, October 17 in Abuja, Okocha added that the 27 legislators from Rivers state who are presently embroiled in a contentious political dispute with Governor Siminalayi Fubara are not party members. Wike allegedly joined the APC. Additionally, they claim that the 27 lawmakers who are at odds with Fubara have turned their allegiance to the APC. “I must be extremely clear about this to everyone. None of them have agreed to come along, as much as I would love to have them in my fold. He remarked, “I tried to court them, but they kept hesitating and didn’t do it.” Wike faction declares seats held by lawmakers who support Fubara emptyLegit.ng has earlier revealed that a significant move made by Speaker Martin Amaewhule’s House on Tuesday, October 15, made the Rivers issue worse. Four lawmakers who supported Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including Edison Ehie, the governor’s chief of staff, had their seats declared vacant by Amaewhule. Amaewhule, a minister for the FCT and a supporter of the former governor gave as the reason for his decision his 152-day continuous absence from sessions.
Kindly Share:
The ruling All Progressives Congress suggested that rather than publicly denouncing the government’s policies or actions, Ali Ndume, the former Chief Whip of the Senate, should speak with President Bola Tinubu privately. In an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, Bala Ibrahim, the National Publicity Director of the APC, offered the advice, stating that while everyone in a democracy has the freedom to voice their opinions, influential people like Ndume have to consider their comments carefully before speaking out. In the National Assembly, Ndume, who represents the Borno South Senatorial District, had urged the President to address the suffering endured by the populace before it was too late. Ndume asserted in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday that certain evil actors associated with Tinubu were in charge of promoting detrimental changes and policies meant to topple the government. He said, “Those who are out to discredit the President will do whatever it takes to hurt Nigerians with the so-called reforms till things get out of control, at which point President Tinubu will be held accountable. The senator further recommended that the Tinubu administration attend to the pain of hyperinflation, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing increases in the costs of necessities. Ndume’s most recent intervention occurs just a few months after the ruling APC, which he belongs to, urged the Senate to remove him from his role as Senate Chief Whip due to his unrelenting public criticism of President Tinubu and the party. Later, he would apologize and receive a pardon from the APC, which asked that the Senate reinstate him as Chief Whip. Ndume’s appointment as Chief Whip by the Senate is still pending. When asked on Sunday if Ndume’s most recent public advise to the President alarmed the ruling APC, Ibrahim, the party’s national publicity director, said Ndume should proceed with prudence. “People have the right to own an opinion and to ventilate their positions without anyone suppressing them,” he stated. Ali Ndume is a general adviser to the president. The President is working on the party’s agenda and policies, so if you happen to be in the same party as him, you have some things in common. As a prominent member of the party, a lawmaker, and a previous Chief Whip, Ndume serves as an advisor to all of our party’s leaders by default. He can therefore communicate with them in private without necessarily doing so in public. People need to be aware of their stance and the reality that their supporters will go so far as to evaluate them according to what they do or say. “Ndume is highly esteemed by many people. He must therefore always consider what he says to avoid being misquoted or misunderstood. However, I hope that he is acting honestly when he does this. Whether the APC is unhappy or will take any sanctions into account when making a decision. This development occurs three months after Ndume’s removal from the Chief Whip role due to his humiliation of the President on a live Arise TV broadcast. The Bornu senator infuriated the ruling party by claiming that Tinubu had been imprisoned and kept in the dark about the struggles Nigerians were facing. Following a direction from the party’s national secretary, senator Bashir Ajibola, and national chairman, Umar Ganduje, in a letter, he was promptly replaced by senator Tahir Monguno, who represents Borno North. Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, put the request to a voice vote, and all of the APC senators enthusiastically supported it. However, following a two-hour meeting behind closed doors with the APC National Working Committee in Abuja two months ago, a somber-looking Ndume informed reporters that he had expressed regret to the party’s leadership. Thanks for reading.
