The Senate has halted progress on the tax reform bills currently under consideration following outcry over the proposed changes.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau announced the suspension and directed the Committee on Finance to put on hold its public hearing on the matter until concerns raised in the public domain are addressed.
To resolve the issues, the Senate also established a special committee tasked with engaging the executive branch and collaborating with the Federal Government to address the controversies surrounding the bills.
The bills are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024.
Northern governors have rejected the bills, describing them as anti-democracy.
Speaking about these controversies, Barau noted that the delegation will meet on Thursday at the National Assembly to resolve all the issues that have been the cause of the uproar.
Barau said, “On the tax reform bills currently before us, we acknowledge that the Senate remains the highest legislative assembly in this country.
“The Senate comprises men and women of wisdom and experience, entrusted to legislate for the peace, stability, and development of the nation.
“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, like similar bodies globally, serves as a stabilising force in times of difficulty or disagreement. Through dialogue and consensus, the Senate has consistently provided solutions to national challenges since 1999.”
He added, “In this regard, we have decided to set aside politics, ethnicity, and regionalism to work together on resolving the issues surrounding the tax reform bills.
“In collaboration with the executive arm of government, we agreed to establish a forum to identify and address contentious areas to ensure national unity and progress.”
