Senate Halts Tax Reform Bills Amid Public Outcry and Controversies

The Senate has suspended the implementation of the tax reform bills following public outcry and controversies since their introduction to the National Assembly.

The National Economic Council reportedly recommended withdrawing the tax reform bills from the National Assembly to allow for further consultations. In response, the Senate directed the Committee on Finance to suspend public hearings until public concerns are adequately addressed.

This development was announced by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, during a plenary session on Wednesday.

To address the concerns, the Senate has constituted a special committee to engage with the executive branch and collaborate with the Federal Government to resolve the issues surrounding the tax reform bills.

It should be recalled that Northern governors rejected the bills, describing them as anti-democratic, unfair, and unfavorable to the northern region, citing their large population as a factor.

Amid the controversies, Senator Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South) stated in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service), “These bills are complex and require thorough review by tax policy experts.”

Also speaking at the plenary, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau emphasized the need for measures to ensure the bills are fair and impartial.

Barau said, “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 have agreed to establish a forum to identify and address contentious areas to ensure national unity and progress.”

Speaking about the challenges encountered since the bills were introduced, Barau noted, “Before the introduction of these bills, we faced numerous challenges, including insecurity and economic issues.

The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been working to address these problems, and we are committed to supporting these efforts while tackling global economic challenges. We also agreed that no further issues should aggravate the country’s current difficulties.”

He added, “It has been mutually decided between the Executive and the Senate to engage the Judiciary to sort out these matters. The Attorney General of the Federation will be involved in discussions to identify and resolve areas of disagreement for the nation’s benefit.”

Barau concluded, “Tomorrow, the committee established by the Senate, along with its leadership, will meet with the Attorney General to address these issues.”