Senate passes tax reform bills, constitutes harmonisation c’ttee

The Senate, on Thursday, passed the remaining two Tax Reform Bills — the Nigeria Tax Bill 2025 and  the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025. The Senate had on Wednesday, passed the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, and the Nigerian Tax Administration Bill, 2025. The four Tax Reform bills were Executive Bills transmitted by […]

The Senate, on Thursday, passed the remaining two Tax Reform Bills — the Nigeria Tax Bill 2025 and  the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025.

The Senate had on Wednesday, passed the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, and the Nigerian Tax Administration Bill, 2025.

The four Tax Reform bills were Executive Bills transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the two chambers of the National Assembly in November last year.

The passage of the bills was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Finance presented by its Chairman, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East).

The Senate, also on Thursday constituted a committee saddled with the responsibility of harmonizing its amendments to the tax reform bills with the House of Representatives version for final transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced this during plenary after the passage of the bills.

Akpabio named senator Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North) as chairman of the committee.

Members of the committee as announced by the Senate President are Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), Chief Whip, Tahir Mongumo (APC, Borno North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and  Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West).

Others are Senators Adetokumbo Abiru (Lagos East), Joel Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South), Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) Babangida Hussaini Uba (Jigawa North) and Sani Musa (APC, Niger East).

Addressing newsmen after the passage of the bills, the Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) said, “The objective of these bills is to streamline our tax administration, to make it possible that our taxes and the operations meet international best practices.”

I won’t resign, Akpabio

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said he will not resign on account of calls for him to do so.

Speaking at the end of plenary, Akpabio said, “I can’t step down over false accusations.”

Daily Trust reports that 56 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), last weekend asked the Senate President to step down on grounds that he allegedly won the 2019 election that brought him to the Senate through fraudulent means.

The CSOs made the call following the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the conviction of Prof Ogban, the returning officer in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial election, for electoral fraud.

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) had said after the passage of the tax reform bills on Thursday that some critics were bent on criticising the Senate including asking the Senate President to resign.

But responding, Akpabio said, “Who told you I was going to step down? You know, if you watch the colour of America, there are black people because of their skin who went to prison, in some 25 years for false allegations.

“So I’m not one of those people who will step down for false accusations. I’m not that bad. So if you had that in mind, please, cancel it.”