- The House of Representatives has been thrown into disarray after its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills
- The Ekiti lawmaker, while trying to present two bills for consideration, mentioned the tax bills but received yelling from his colleagues
- Speaker Tajudeen Abbas attempted to calm down the lawmakers, saying Rotimi was only speaking personal opinion but the lawmakers keep yelling at him
A heated debate erupted in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, December 3, after Akin Rotimi, the speaker’s spokesperson, mentioned the tax reform bills. Rotimi was trying to move a motion for the consideration of two reports, but his colleagues interrupted him, shouting, “No, no, no.” The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, tried to calm the situation, saying Rotimi was just expressing his personal opinion.
The tax reform bills, sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, have been controversial. The bills aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system, but the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC) have opposed them, saying they would harm the region’s interests. Despite the opposition, Tinubu has refused to withdraw the bills, saying they would improve the lives of Nigerians and optimize existing tax frameworks.
