Politics
Nigerian Senate to begin public hearing on controversial tax reform bills Feb 24
The Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesday disclosed that a public hearing on President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills would commence on Monday, 24th February 2025.
This follows the submission of the four bills to the National Assembly for legislative debate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 3rd October 2024, a move that sparked anger and mixed reactions, particularly in the northern part of the country.
The tax reform bills—(i) The Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, (ii) The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) 2024, (iii) The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill (NRSEB) 2024, and (iv) The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill (JRBEB) 2024—were passed for a second reading in the Senate on 28th November 2024 and subsequently referred to the Committee on Finance for further legislative input through a public hearing.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, while briefing journalists after a closed-door session with committee members, assured that they have a clear understanding of the bills and are prepared for a robust legislative debate, beginning with the public hearing on Monday.
According to him, the Committee has engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders, inviting over 71 groups and agencies to participate in the hearing.
Sani Musa stated that discussions on the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill would take place on Monday, while deliberations on the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill and the Nigeria Tax Bill would be held on Tuesday.
He emphasised that the Senate would give thorough consideration to the bills, which aim to reshape the dynamics of the nation’s economy.
He further revealed that heads of revenue-generating agencies and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, are expected to attend the public hearing.
“The Committee is inviting 71 different groups of stakeholders for this very important public hearing,” he said.
“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have completed the second reading of the reform bills and are ready for the public hearing.
“Members of the Committee have thoroughly reviewed the bills and now have a clearer understanding of their objectives, particularly in the areas of tax administration, collection, and operations in Nigeria.
“The main purpose of these reform bills is to enhance government revenue generation, enabling us to position the country on the path to becoming an advanced economy—one where infrastructure, education, the agricultural sector, and all key economic sectors are adequately developed and sustained.”
FCT Minister and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has said that any senator, House of Representatives Member, Minister, or governor who supports betrayers will suffer betrayal in their lives and that such person will join their creator when they experience their own betrayal.
Wike who is currently in a running battle with his godson and incumbent governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara, said this while speaking at a public function in the state today February 6.
Speaking to the crowd at the public function, Wike said
‘’Wether you are a Senator, House of Reps member, a Minister or Governor, and you support betrayers, people will continue to betray you in life. You see people who betray and support them, betrayal is your portion! Betrayal is your portion! and that day you will not have mouth to say anything and there you will collapse and there you will go and they will announce such person has died because that is the seed you have planted because whatever you plant, you reap and so since you are sowing betrayal, betrayal will always follow you.
Watch! Every governor who is doing his second term and has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayals, you will never survive it. Betrayal will follow you. From the day your successor comes in. My own took so many months, your own will start immediately the person has been inaugurated. That is what the gods of the land have told me to tell all of you’’
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUdaCp1jD01/?igsh=MWVnZXoyaGNmOGJ5dA==
Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
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