Northern senators have called for the suspension of further legislative actions on the contentious Tax Reform Bills, which recently passed their second reading in the Senate.
This demand came after a meeting held on Monday, with lawmakers voicing concerns about the potential negative impact of the bills on northern states.
The House of Representatives had already suspended debate on the bills over the weekend, citing public outcry and strong resistance from northern lawmakers.
The proposed tax laws, which were submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the legislature, have sparked intense debates across the country.
Critics, including northern governors, traditional leaders, and lawmakers, have urged the president to withdraw the bills for further consultations.
However, the president has insisted that the bills should continue their legislative process.
Senator Buba Umaru Shehu (APC, Bauchi State) revealed that northern senators, both from the ruling APC and opposition parties, agreed that the bills should undergo thorough review before any further action.
Shehu criticized the hasty manner in which the bills were presented and stressed the need for careful consideration by tax policy experts.
The senators also raised concerns about the proposed “derivation” formula in the value-added tax (VAT) distribution system, which they believe would unfairly disadvantage northern states.
Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno State) confirmed the outcome of the northern senators’ meeting, which included discussions with governors and other leaders.
Ndume said they would advise for the withdrawal of the bills to allow for broader consultations, in line with recommendations from traditional rulers and the National Economic Council (NEC).
He also indicated that state assemblies in the region would soon express their objections.
Ndume further argued that some provisions in the bills clashed with Nigeria’s constitution and might not stand if passed in their current form.
“We need to approach this with caution. It’s essential that we get the buy-in of all stakeholders. This is not about politics; it’s about the future of our country.”
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, where deliberations on the bills had been suspended, Muhammad Bello Shehu Fagge emphasized that public outcry and the reactions of religious leaders played a significant role in the suspension.
The bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further review.
The committee, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger), is expected to conduct a public hearing to gather input from experts and the public.
In the House of Representatives, tensions flared when spokesperson Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti) expressed support for the bills during a report presentation.
His remarks were met with immediate backlash from fellow lawmakers, with many shouting “No!” in protest.
The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened, urging Rotimi to withdraw the statement, which was eventually retracted to restore order.
The House then dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to continue proceedings.
The session was handed over to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu to resume the debate.
