The South-East caucus in the Senate has called for more extensive consultations on the Tax Reform Bills recently submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
The leader of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), made the call on Monday during a press briefing following a closed-door meeting with senators from the five southeastern states.
Abaribe emphasized that while the South-East senators are not opposed to the bills, they are advocating for broader consultations with their constituents and key stakeholders before making a final decision in both chambers of the National Assembly. He highlighted the importance of engaging constituents across the 15 senatorial districts in the region, as well as state governments and other relevant stakeholders.
The senator pointed out that while the caucus does not oppose the Tax Reform Bills, they believe that wider consultations are necessary to ensure a more equitable framework for the legislation.
He stressed that the goal is to ensure that the bills benefit all Nigerians fairly, with particular attention to the South-East region, according to Daily Post
The Tax Reform Bills currently under consideration include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024.
These bills, which were submitted to the National Assembly by the President on October 3, 2024, have generated considerable debate across the country.
“While we are not against the Tax Reform Bills currently before both chambers of the National Assembly, we believe wider consultations must be carried out,” Abaribe stated.
“We have carefully reviewed the bills and feel it is essential to share our insights with stakeholders in the South East to ensure a more equitable framework in the eventual legislation.
“This is about ensuring that the bills serve all Nigerians fairly, particularly our region.”
