Senate to consider Tax Reform Bills today
The Senate on Tuesday postponed the debate and passage of the controversial tax reform bills for today. Daily Trust reports that it was listed on the Order Paper to be debated. Senator Musa Mohammed Sani (APC, Niger East) and Chairman Senate Committee on Finance was billed to present a report of the committee on the […]
The Senate on Tuesday postponed the debate and passage of the controversial tax reform bills for today.
Daily Trust reports that it was listed on the Order Paper to be debated.
Senator Musa Mohammed Sani (APC, Niger East) and Chairman Senate Committee on Finance was billed to present a report of the committee on the tax bills.
But after submitting the committee’s report during plenary, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked that the senators be given copies to study for clause-by-clause consideration today.
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Following this, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moved a motion that the remaining items on the Order Paper be stepped down for consideration today.
The motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senator Bamidele had in a statement on Monday said, “Tax Reform Bills, 2024, its passage has become imperative to reform the country’s tax regime and shore up the revenue of the federation. This will also help governments at all levels to implement projects and deliver the dividends of democracy.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in October 2024 transmitted the four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
The four bills are: the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Joint Revenue Board Bill, and the Nigeria Tax Bill, which have been passed for a second reading by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Daily Trust reports that before the public hearing was held, there was a lot of push back on the bills, especially from the North.
Governors and members of the National Assembly from the region had noted serious concerns on some provisions in the presidential bills.
However, after serious debates and interventions, a consensus was reached between the governors and tax reform team, a development that paved the way for public hearing at the two chambers of the National Assembly.
Some legislators told Daily Trust that after the public hearing, senators and members of the House of Representatives from the North had commissioned the services of some consultants who helped in bringing out serious defence on why some provisions in the original bills must be expunged.