Northern youth groups barricade National Assembly over tax reform bill

Some youths from the 19 northern states on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, staged a protest at the entrance of the National Assembly where they warned critics of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibril, to desist from attacking him over the tax reform bill.
The Deputy Senate President had in November presided over plenary when heads of relevant government agencies and tax reform experts briefed senators on the merits and methodology of the bills.
Barau during the session, said that the experts, including the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform, Taiwo Oyedele, should be allowed to educate the senators and Nigerians on the legislation.
The protesting youths who bore placards with various inscriptions described the Deputy Senate President as the “Sardauna of our era.”
Some of the placards read, “Senator Barau: The Sardauna of our era”,” Senator Barau is the new leader of the North”, “Stop attacking Senator Barau”, “Leave Senator Barau alone”, ” Senator Barau: The pro-masses lawmaker.”
They said Barau remains the best Senator in the North, given his sponsorship of the North West Development Commission bill.
A former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Tijjani Kabiru Mohammed said Barau has neither supported nor kicked against the Tax Reform Bills; instead, he pushed for the sensitization of Nigerians.