From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Senate has constituted a Special Committee to resolve the contentious issues in the four tax reform bills submitted to it for consideration by President Bola Tinubu.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abba Moro, include Tahir Monguno, Aliero Adamu, Orji Kalu, Seriake Dickson, Titus Zam, Yahaya Abdullahi, Adeola Solomon, Sani Musa, Abiru Mukhail, as well as the entire leadership of the Senate.
Deputy Senate president, Barau Jibrin, who disclosed this during plenary on Wednesday, directed the Committee on Finance to suspend further action on the proposed tax bill pending the outcome of a high-level meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
He said the special committee will address contentious issues in the bill, with the meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec 5.
President Tinubu had directed the Federal Ministry of Justice and other relevant officials to work closely with the National Assembly to ensure that all genuine concerns against the Tax Bills are addressed.
President Tinubu had on October 13, transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration, following the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, headed by Taiwo Oyedele for the review of existing tax laws.
The four bills include ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman for the harmonisation, coordination, and settlement of disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria and for related matters, 2024’; ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No.13, 2007 and enact the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act to Establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, charged with powers of assessment, collection of, and accounting for revenue accruable to the Government of the Federation, and for related matters, 2024’; ‘A Bill for an Act to Provide for the assessment, collection of, and accounting for revenue accruing to the Federation, Federal, States, and Local Governments; prescribe the powers and functions of tax authorities, and for related matters, 2024’ and ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal certain Acts on taxation and consolidate the legal frameworks relating to taxation and enact the Nigeria Tax Act to provide for taxation of income, transactions, and instruments, and for related matters, 2024.”
The tax reform bills have further polarised the country as well as the National Assembly. The northern governors and other stakeholders have raised voices against the bill.
Although the tax reform bills have been passed for a second reading at the Senate, it announced plans on Wednesday, to convene a special meeting to address all areas of disagreement in the bills.
Earlier, the House of Representatives’ debate ended in a rowdy session forcing the Speaker to halt further debate.
