By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives yesterday witnessed a rowdy session when its Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Akin Rotimi, before presenting a matter declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the four reform bills from the executive are a subject of heated national debate.
The House was thrown into shouting match as Rotimi declared that “Mr Speaker, I am from Ekiti State, the first state whose National Assembly caucus has unanimously endorse the tax bills”.
The endorsement of the bills triggered anger from ilawmakers during plenary shouting “No, No, No”.
Yesterday’s commotion once again brings to the fore how the bills have polarised federal lawmakers along tribal and regional divides.
Rotimi, spoke while representing the Chairman, Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, Honourable Boma Goodhead, to present a report.
However, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, brought the situation to a calm as he asked Rotimi to restrict himself to the person he is representing, noting that “we are not talking about tax bills. It is a very controversial issue. He, therefore, asked Rotimi to withdraw the statement.
“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”.
Besides, Abbas said “Rotimi “is expressing his personal opinion”.
He was just talking on a lighter note. Let’s not take it serious, the Speaker said.
Responding, the spokesman immediately apologised, and withdrew the statement while aggrieved members of the House demanded the image maker to step down report slated for presentation.
He eventually step down the report as demanded during plenary.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives had last week scheduled a special session on the bills but the meeting did not hold yesterday as controversy trailing the tax reform bills forced the lawmakers to suspend the hearing indefinitely.
Key among the opposers to the bills are Senator Ali Ndume, Sen. Abdul Ningi, Sen. Orji-Uzor Kalu and other NASS members who do not speak to the Microphone.Â
