Members of the House of Representatives have unanimously passed four consolidated Tax Reform Bills for the second reading, with no objections from lawmakers.
The bills include the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
Leading the debate on the bills, House Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his bold initiative in introducing reforms aimed at addressing multiple taxation, enhancing revenue collection, and diversifying the economy.
Prof. Ihonvbere appreciated those who opposed parts of the bills, noting that their concerns helped strengthen the proposed reforms by consolidating the four Bills into one to ensure success in overhauling the tax system of this country.
“We have all agreed that the spirit behind the four bills is good, but we have issues with some of the letters of the bills. While we oppose some parts, we support the spirit and will ensure that the letters are corrected in the interest of Nigerians.”
In his contribution, the house Minority Leader Mr Kingsley Chinda, acknowledged that while there were concerns with some certain provisions of the proposed Bills the overall intention was commendable.
On his part, Alhaji Sada Soli, from Katrina State expressed concerns about ambiguities and contradictions within the Bills especially regarding constitutional and jurisdictional matters seeking clarification on key terms like “derivation” and “artificial transactions,” which could cause implementation challenges.
Also contributing to the debate Mr Bamidele Salami, emphasized that legislation must prioritize the welfare of ordinary Nigerians who can barely afford basic necessities through effective utilisation of funds generated.
Recall that the bills were first read October last year but the debate was suspended by the Speaker due to disagreements from northern leaders and the Nigerian Governors Forum to allow members consult widely with their constituents before debating the bills.
COV TSIBIRI
