The South-East caucus in the Senate has called for broader consultations on the Tax Reform Bills 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 at a press briefing after a closed-door meeting of senators from the five southeastern states.
Abaribe said the South-East senators are not opposed to the bills but are advocating for extensive consultations with their constituents and key stakeholders before a final decision is made in both chambers of the National Assembly.
The lawmaker underscored the need to engage with constituents across the 15 senatorial districts in the South-East, as well as state governments and other critical stakeholders.
“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.”
DAILY POST reports that the Tax Reform Bills 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.
The bills, submitted to the National Assembly by the President on October 3, 2024, have sparked widespread debate across the country.
Tax reform bills: Senate South-East Caucus seeks wider consultations