Senate Passes 2 Remaining Tax Reform Bills …Sets Up Reconciliation Committee
BY PATRICK WEMAMBU
The Senate on Thursday passed the 2 remaining Tax Reform Bills before it – marking the end of its legislative x-ray of the fiscal framework transmitted to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since last year.
The Bills passed at Thursday’s plenary – deploying the Clause by Clause approach – were the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill and the Nigeria Tax Bill.
Commenting during the proceedings, however, Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, announced the constitution of a Conference Committee to harmonise differences noticed between the version of the stated piece of legislation passed by both the Red and Green Chambers.
Said he; “If you notice, what we passed here is different from what the house passed because we are very meticulous. We actually ensured more security in certain provisions.”
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He added; “A conference committee will take it from there and look at what the senate has done and also look at what the house has done.”
Inviting Senators to raise any observations with the bills when the votes of proceedings are considered next week, Akpabio advised; “If anybody still has any part of the bill, of the four bills that were passed, at the point of taking the votes of proceedings on Tuesday, please feel free to bring it up.”
The Conference Committee is chaired by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP Kebbi North) while Senators Muhammed Sani Musa, Abba Moro, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ezenwa Francis, Adetokunbo Abiru, Gbenga Daniel, Joel Onowakpo, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Tahir Monguno, David Jimkuta, Solomon Olamilekan, Adams Oshiomhole, and Babangida Hussaini constitute the members.
The Daily Times recalls that on Wednesday, the Senate had debated and passed 2 of the Tax Bills namely the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Tax Administration Bill.
With the passage of the 2 remaining bills Thursday, the Senate has successfully passed the 4 Tax Reform Bills geared towards repositioning Nigeria’s fiscal system.
