Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television, Ndume described the tax law as “faulty,” warning that discrepancies between the version approved by lawmakers and the one assented to by the President pose a grave threat to democratic governance and legislative integrity.
Senator Ali Ndume, former Senate Chief Whip and lawmaker representing Borno South, has expressed concerns over Nigeria’s newly signed tax law, alleging that what the National Assembly passed is fundamentally different from what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu eventually signed into law.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television, Ndume described the tax law as “faulty,” warning that discrepancies between the version approved by lawmakers and the one assented to by the President pose a grave threat to democratic governance and legislative integrity.
According to Ndume, even the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform has openly admitted that there are multiple versions of the tax law in circulation, a development he said should alarm Nigerians.
“Even the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform admitted there are different versions. My concern is not just the discrepancies, but the secrecy. This is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Why hide anything?” Ndume said.
The senator stressed that the matter goes beyond technical errors, accusing the executive arm of undermining transparency and public trust. He revealed that the House of Representatives has already commenced an investigation into the issue.
“There are discrepancies. What we passed is not what the President signed. This is not something that can be buried. You cannot build on disputed ground,” he warned.
Ndume rejected arguments suggesting that controversial sections of the law could simply be ignored or selectively implemented. According to him, once a bill is passed by the legislature and signed into law, no authority has the right to alter it unilaterally.
“Laws are not implemented discretionarily. Once you pass a law, you have no right to add to it or remove from it. These things show that Nigerians are being taken lightly,” he said.
The Borno South senator also criticised the growing arrogance among some government policy officials, noting that Nigerians are not opposed to taxation in principle, but are deeply frustrated by the erosion of trust in governance.
“Nigerians are not against tax. The problem is trust. The system has lost public confidence, yet taxes are being imposed arrogantly without proper explanation. The President is a servant of the people; Nigerians are not servants of the President,” Ndume stated.
Turning to politics, Ndume warned that the rising discontent in Northern Nigeria could have significant implications for the 2027 general elections if left unaddressed.
“Anybody who tells you that the North is not grumbling is not speaking the truth. And that grumbling will be loud in their votes if nothing is done,” he cautioned.
He dismissed any suggestion that electoral victory could be manufactured through declarations or political manoeuvring.
“Declaring victory will not work. You only win when the people accept you. If things don’t change, how can you expect people to vote for you?” he asked.
However, Ndume maintained that President Tinubu still has an opportunity to reverse public dissatisfaction and regain trust.
“The President can change things and turn things around. Nigerians are forgiving people. If security improves and people can travel freely without fear, Nigerians will have no reason to change leadership,” he said.
However, the senator identified what he described as the President’s “inner circle” as the administration’s biggest challenge.
“The President is not the problem. The people around him are the problem. Many capable people have been sidelined, and decisions are being taken by people who don’t understand Nigeria. Some of what they do is embarrassing to the President and to the country,” Ndume alleged.
He warned that public patience has limits, stressing that dissatisfaction, if ignored, could manifest in various forms.
“If things remain the way they are and people are unhappy, resistance may come through votes, political realignment, or other means. We have seen it before, even in other countries,” Ndume said.
WATCH: ‘What We Passed Is Not What Tinubu Signed’: Senator Ndume Alleges Secrecy, Discrepancies In New Tax Law pic.twitter.com/1AzPoSNxvD
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 29, 2026