The Senator representing Borno South at the senate, Ali Ndume, has frowned at the rushed passage of the tax reform bills, saying that the hurry by the presidency and some lawmakers to pass the bills looks suspicious.

The tax reform bills which passed for second reading at the Senate on Thursday have triggered controversies since it was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, with Ndume maintaining strongest opposition against the bills.

The National Economic Council also advised President Tinubu to withdraw the bills, but the President said he preferred that they go through the processes.

The lawmaker, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, maintained his position and insisted that it is better for the Presidency to take the advice of the National Economic Council to withdraw the bill.

“It is not that I am totally saying that we should throw away the baby with the bath water, but since the governors who are our leaders, the National Economic Council and many individuals have said that it is not that we should throw away the bills, no.

“Withdraw the bill, do more consultations and then bring the bill again. Why are they in a hurry,” Ndume queried.

Backing up his claim that there is a rush to pass the tax reform bills, Ndume gave an instance of the Petrol Industry Bill which he said is more important than the tax bill, adding that it took years before it was passed.

He recalled that the PIB was introduced to the National Assembly when he was in the House of Representatives, but wasn’t passed until years later when he had moved to the Senate.

The Senator said one of his grouses with the tax reform bills is the timing, noting that such bills shouldn’t be introduced when Nigerians are struggling to survive.

According to him, the opposition to the bills by him and some others is not because people do not want to pay taxes, but the wrong timing.

“I disagree with the timing because Nigerians are struggling to survive. Our forefathers were paying tax, in the North we pay taxes.

“So, it is not like we are running away from tax, we pay taxes, every responsible Nigerian will want to pay tax, but the timing is wrong,” he said.

Ndume, who said the best time to present the bills is when there is no hunger, likened the bills to giving someone something with a right hand and taking it back with the left hand.

He added that his opposition of the bills is because he does not want Tinubu to fail contrary to some insinuations that it is to hurt the President.

A local herbalist residing in Kuchibuyi Village in the FCT narrowly escapes death as he injured himself while testing the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ juju.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said while testing the charm, Usman shot himself in the stomach with a shotgun.

Unfortunately, the charm failed to protect him, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Adeh said officers from the Byazhin Division were alerted and they visited the scene where they found Usman in critical condition.

‘’He was quickly transported to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.

In the aftermath, police conducted a thorough search of Usman’s home, recovering the homemade gun and an array of charms used in his reckless experiment. Investigations are ongoing, and Usman is expected to face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.’’ Adeh said

The police spokesperson mentioned that the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, has condemned the incident, highlighting the dangers associated with illegal firearms. “This situation illustrates the serious risks of engaging in reckless behavior. We strongly advise the community to avoid such dangerous practices.”

Action packed FCT minister, Nyesom Wike is fast transforming the narrative of governance as captured in a trending video online.

In the video, work was still ongoing at 12midnight to meet up with the FCT Minister’s deadline.

Recall Wike was dubbed Mr Projects because of the massive projects he embarked upon in his home state, Rivers State.

He bagged the award of the most consistent governor in projects facilitation across Nigeria and earned himself an award as Mr Projects of Nigeria.

Wike is fast transforming the capital city into a haven of modern day road networks like we have in civilsed climes.

He has even embarked on projects in no go areas of Abuja Satellite towns like Bwari, Karishi, Kubwa and others.

In the video comedian Gana aptly captured men and foreigners working in one of the major roads in Abuja.

The comedian explained in pidgin English that “see pipu dey work by 12midnight till early hours of the day.

“Na so e suppose be as dem dey do for abroad wia pipu dey work for night to avoid traffic.

“Leader na leader any day anytime who say Wike no de work make una come see follow mi.

In the video caterpillars and other heavy equipment were sighted working.

On assumption last year, within 100 days in office Wike turned major areas of Abuja city into a massive construction yard.

From Asokoro to Maitama, Zone E, Kado and hinterlands have one project or the other ongoing and some wrapped up.

Watch video below:

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