Protesters identified as northern youth on Tuesday staged a protest at the entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja to warn those criticising the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, for supporting the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
Penpushing reports that the protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Leave Senator Barau alone,” ‘Senator Barau: The pro-masses lawmaker,” ‘Stop attacking Senator Barau,” “Senator Barau is the new leader of the North,” and “Senator Barau: The Sardauna of our era.”
The protesters led by Tijjani Mohammed who addressed journalists on behalf of others said those hurling abusive words on the Deputy Senate President because of his role on the tax reform bills are enemies of the North.
Penpushing further reports that Mohammed, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), emphasized at the protest venue that youth in Northern Nigeria are not opposed to the bills.
“And let me tell you one thing: those who, for the past few days, have been attacking Senator Barau, are the enemies of the north, enemies of Nigeria, enemies of our generation, enemies of progress. Let them cease. We are not against reforms, including tax reforms and whatever will fast-track our region’s development, and indeed the entire country would be supported by us’, he said.
Penpushing also reports that he encouraged the Deputy Senate President to continue representing the interest of the North with sincerity, declaring that the north appreciated him for sponsoring the North-west Development Commission Bill.
‘He has done marvelously well. In this assembly, he is the best senator in the North given his bill on the North West Development Commission. Let me tell you, if the challenges of the North West are addressed, more than half of our challenges in the country will be addressed’, Mohammed said.
Penpushing reports that it is recalled that the Deputy Senate President had been facing verbal attacks from some quarters in Northern Nigeria since the tax reform bills was introduced at the National Assembly.
The Deputy Senate President, representing Kano North Senatorial District, presided over the plenary last Wednesday when members of Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms appeared before the Senate to brief the senators on the nitty-gritty of the bills.
Penpushing further reports that Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume and his Bauchi Central counterpart, Abdul Ningi, alongside some senators on that day attempted to stop members of the committee from being admitted into the chamber.
The issue generated a heated debate on the floor of the chambers during which some of the northern senators attempted to stage a walkout but later rescinded their decision, although Jibrin has not publicly stated his position on the tax reform bills, from all indications, he appears to be supporting them.
Penpushing also reports that the tax reform bills passed second reading at the Senate last Thursday and were referred to the Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Niger East Senator, Sani Musa, for further legislative action, including holding a public hearing.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, directed the committee to involve the National Economic Council (NEC), Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Civil Society Organisations in the public hearing.
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