The House of Representatives descended into chaos on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over the controversial tax reform bills during plenary. The uproar began when Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the House, made comments endorsing the bills while moving a motion for the consideration of two unrelated reports.
Rotimi had risen to present a motion on behalf of Rivers State lawmaker Boma Goodhead, who was absent. The motion concerned a report on repealing and reenacting the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act. However, in his introduction, Rotimi made a controversial reference to the tax reform bills.
“My name is Akin Rotimi Jr. I represent the people of Ekiti North, comprising Ikole and Oye local governments. Mr. Speaker, I am from Ekiti State, the first state, whose national assembly caucus, has unanimously endorsed the tax bills,” he said.
His remarks immediately triggered a heated reaction from his colleagues, who interrupted him with loud protests.
Speaker Intervenes Amid Protests
Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, attempted to restore order, explaining that Rotimi’s comments were meant as a lighthearted remark.
“He was just talking on a lighter note. Let us not take it seriously,” Abbas said, but his plea fell on deaf ears as lawmakers continued to shout “no, no, no.”
Rotimi, visibly taken aback by the uproar, apologized and withdrew his earlier remarks. “Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the introduction. I will introduce myself properly. Colleagues, I would like to withdraw that introduction and restrict myself to the Order Paper,” he said.
In an attempt to quell the unrest, Abbas advised Rotimi to stick to the subject matter. “Mr. Rotimi, you know this 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,” the Speaker added.
Motion Stalled
Despite withdrawing his comments, Rotimi’s motion was not seconded, and lawmakers continued to protest. Unable to proceed, he ultimately withdrew the report.
The Controversial Tax Reform Bills
The incident highlights the contentious nature of the tax reform bills introduced by President Bola Tinubu. The bills — Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill — have faced significant opposition, particularly from the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC).
Critics, including northern governors, argue that the bills could harm regional interests and have called for their withdrawal to allow broader consultations.
This legislative skirmish underscores the challenges ahead as lawmakers grapple with balancing the bills’ potential to enhance revenue generation against the need for equity and consensus across Nigeria’s diverse regions.