There would be no further action on the tax reform bills presented to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu.
Deputy Senate president Jibrin Barau said Wednesday during the plenary that public hearing is also suspended till the Senate committee on finance iron out issues raised on the bill with the executive branch of government.
The bills include 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.
Opposition to the bill had come mostly from the North with governors and Senators describing it as a death warrant to the Northern States. The National Economic Council also voiced its concern calling for more consultations before the bill is passed by the National Assembly.
The northern governors and Senators are particularly against the value-added tax VAT distribution, which according to them does not favour the North.
“On the tax reform bills currently before us, we acknowledge that the Senate remains the highest legislative assembly in this country. We have decided to set aside politics, ethnicity, and regionalism to work together on resolving the issues surrounding the tax reform bills,” Senator Barau.
“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.
“Consequently, the Senate Committee on Finance has been directed to pause further actions on public hearings and other matters related to the tax reform bills until the issues are resolved.”
