Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has expressed concern over the growing lack of confidence Nigerians have in their lawmakers, attributing it to poor performance.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume highlighted that, in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, only 25 out of the 109 senators from the previous Assembly returned to the upper chamber.

“This means we have lost the confidence of the people,” he said.

“Out of those that didn’t come back, almost all wanted to return, except for a few who sought governorship positions,” Ndume emphasised the need to protect the integrity of the legislature, stressing that when lawmakers fail to meet public expectations, it amounts to a breach of trust.

Ndume also commented on a recent uproar in the Senate concerning President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has provided further insight into why the northern region and other stakeholders oppose the Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.

In an interview with BBC News Hausa, Zulum argued that the proposed reforms would disproportionately benefit Lagos State while hindering economic progress in the North. He also noted that the negative impact of the reforms would extend beyond the northern region to other parts of the country, including the South East, South South, and South West.

Zulum specifically mentioned that states like Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo could face economic challenges under the proposed reforms. Although some proponents of the bill argue that it could place Lagos State at a disadvantage, Zulum dismissed these claims. He emphasized that the North does not wish for Lagos to suffer but maintains that the reforms, as currently proposed, are unfair to other regions.

Governor Zulum urged President Tinubu to reconsider the Tax Reform Bills, pointing out that the northern region, which delivered 60% of Tinubu’s votes in the last election, deserves fair treatment. He also dismissed narratives suggesting that the North does not support Tinubu’s administration, describing such claims as misleading.

“We are not opposing the President,” Zulum stated, “but we are asking him to withdraw these tax reform bills for the sake of fairness and national unity.”

Zulum’s remarks come amidst ongoing debates and widespread criticism of the Tax Reform Bills. Despite the backlash, the Senate advanced the bills to the second reading following a debate led by Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on Thursday. The move has intensified discussions over the perceived regional and economic implications of the reforms.

Critics argue that the reforms risk deepening the disparity between states, favoring wealthier regions like Lagos at the expense of less economically developed areas. Zulum’s call for a review reflects a growing sentiment among stakeholders who believe the bills require substantial amendments to ensure equitable outcomes across all regions.

As the debate continues, Zulum’s position underscores the importance of inclusive policymaking in addressing Nigeria’s diverse regional and economic realities. He called on President Tinubu to prioritize national cohesion and fairness by revisiting the tax reform proposals to accommodate the concerns of all regions.

For the first time in 24 years, a Nigerian President began a state visit to France on Thursday to boost economic ties and attract foreign investments.

The visit is symbolic to Nigeria’s leadership as it marks the first appearance of a sitting president at Champs-Élysées in two decades.

Bola Tinubu chaired meetings at the Elysée Palace aimed at bolstering his country’s position as a top trade partner for France.

“We’ve been working on stabilizing the security system in Nigeria, and we are getting closer and closer. We are doing better now in the area of security. I assure all the investors here that Nigeria is open for business and I thank you for your collaboration,” Tinubu said.

France’s Emmanuel Macron is pushing to expand his country’s strategic ties beyond its traditional sphere of influence in the wake of a series of coups and power shifts that have seen several countries from Mali to Niger move away from their former colonial ruler.

France is seeking to strengthen economic ties with Africa, as the visit sets up the two presidents for meetings at the “Franco-Nigerian Business Council” forum.

“To us, economic partnerships place France as a partner in the long run to work, with you, on your country’s food safety, the extraction and value maximization of the critical ore your country has, and as a partner, with our industries, in your defense and security strategy – that’s three priorities we want to commit to,” Macron said.

Ties between France and the continent are beginning to falter after Niger’s military junta banned the French aid group Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, or Acted, from working in the country in mid-November.

The Ministry of the Interior signed a decree withdrawing the nonprofit organization’s license to operate, without providing reasons for the decision.