The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the National Assembly of working as a rubber stamp for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that lawmakers approve presidential proposals with out adequately contemplating their implications.
Kwankwaso made the allegation whereas talking on the inauguration of the NDC marketing campaign council in Jigawa State, which was held in Dutse, the state capital.
He criticised members of the Senate and House of Representatives for allegedly approving insurance policies and payments introduced by the President, no matter public considerations or their attainable penalties.
He particularly faulted the National Assembly over the passage of the tax reform payments, alleging that some lawmakers supported the method regardless of considerations about its implications for peculiar Nigerians.
“The worst part of it is that the session for the approval of the tax bill was chaired by one of us from Kano. Even the Senate President intentionally refused to attend because he did not want to be part of it,” he stated.
Kwankwaso additional alleged that the Federal Government had delayed the implementation of tax assortment due to considerations about dropping the forthcoming 2027 common election.
“The bill has been passed into law, but the Federal Government is now afraid of losing the election. That is why it has delayed the collection.
“As soon as they get a second chance, God forbid, Nigerians will suffer from different kinds of tax collection. They will start going from house to house, checking even under your bed to collect taxes,” he added.
The former Kano State governor stated each chambers of the National Assembly had deserted their constitutional accountability of independently scrutinising authorities insurance policies and defending the pursuits of the folks.
“Our National Assembly members have become rubber stamps. They are just there, waiting for the President to present proposals for approval, regardless of public concerns or possible consequences,” he stated.
He additionally expressed concern over the continued borrowing by the Federal Government regardless of revenues generated via taxation, subsidy elimination, and different sources.
Kwankwaso questioned the rationale behind the federal government’s continued borrowing, notably with just a few months remaining earlier than the 2027 common election.
He urged Nigerians to carry their elected representatives accountable and reject leaders who fail to guard their pursuits in the course of the forthcoming elections.
“You will give account of why you played a role in voting for a bad leader who does not respect the yearnings and aspirations of the common man,” Kwankwaso warned.
