Tax Reform Bills Pass Second Reading At Senate

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The Senate at plenary on Thursday, passed the four tax reform bills for second reading.

The bills are: the Nigeria Tax Bill; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

The red chamber had earlier held a one-hour closed session where the federal lawmakers agreed to debate the general principles of the bills.

The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, read the lead debate when the close session ended and the floor was open to the senators who wanted to contribute.

The senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, commended the executive for coming up with the landmark tax reform bills. 

He said the fiscal legislation would entrench fiscal federalism in Nigeria if passed to law.

However, Senator Ali Ndume, who is representing Borno South at the Senate, argued that the bills should be withdrawn for proper consultation in order to get the buy-in of the critical stakeholders who are opposed to it.

Ndume’s position was instantly countered by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, who said the views of the stakeholders, who are opposed to the bills, could be taken at the public hearing after the legislation had passed.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, put the question on whether the senators would want the bills passed or not and the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in support.

Details later…