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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The South East Caucus in the Senate on Monday expressed support for the Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu. However, they joined other stakeholder groups in calling for wider consultations on the bills pending consideration and possible passage by both chambers of the National Assembly.
The leader of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), stated this to newsmen after a closed-door meeting with senators from the five South-Eastern states held in his office.
At the media briefing, Abaribe said that senators from the South East are not opposed to the bills but want broader consultations to be conducted before their full consideration in both chambers.
“As much as the entire senators from the 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.
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“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 much more equitable framework in the bills that would eventually be passed.
“We are not against the bills but need to consult with our people,” he stressed.
The Tax Reform Bills, which include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, have generated controversy since October 3, 2024, when President Bola Tinubu forwarded them to the Senate and House of Representatives for consideration.
While the Presidency and the South-South Caucus in the Senate are advocating for the immediate consideration of the bills, other stakeholders, such as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Northern Senators, and the Arewa Consultative Forum, are demanding wider consultations.
