While some senators are calling for immediate consideration of the bills, others are against it and are seeking more consultations before they are passed.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The southeast caucus of the Senate has expressed support for the Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly.
They gave their backing to the bills on Monday, December 9, during a briefing of the press afyer a closed door meeting held at his office in Abuja.
The Tax Reforms Bills comprising the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024; have generated controversies in the polity since it was forwarded to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for consideration and passage.
While some senators are calling for immediate consideration of the bills, others are against it and are seeking more consultations before they are passed.
Other stakeholders including the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Northern Senators and Arewa Consultative Forum have also expressed reservations about the bills.
Speaking in behalf of other lawmakers, the leader of the southeast caucus in the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said senators from the southeast zone would consult widely to get the input of their constituents and critical stakeholders in the consideration and passage of the Bills.
He, however added that wider consultation should be carried out before they are considered by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Sen. Abaribe said, “As much as the entire Senators from South East, are not against the Tax Reform Bills before both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration, we want wider consultations to be carried out on them.
“Specifically, we need to consult with our constituents across the 15 Senatorial Districts in the Zone, with our state governments and other critical stakeholders.
“We have read through the bills and want to share our knowledge with other stakeholders from the South East Zone for a more equitable framework in the bills that would eventually be passed.
“We are not against the bills but need to consult with our people.”