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The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin has explained why the upper legislative chamber allowed the controversial tax reform bills to pass for second reading.
Jibrin, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said it was to allow experts and all Nigerians to provide their input on the bills.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration last month.
The move generated controversy with the northern governors and other stakeholders kicking against the tax reforms.
However, the Red Chamber on Thursday passed the four tax bills for second reading through voice votes.
Speaking to BBC Hausa Service on Friday, the Deputy Senate President said the senators passed the tax reform bills to give room for contributions from experts and Nigerians.
In other news, Tempers flared during Wednesday’s Senate plenary as a shouting match broke out over the Tax Reform Bill, which unexpectedly made its way to the floor for debate, despite not being on the official agenda for the day’s proceedings.
The atmosphere in the session, overseen by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, APC, from Kano North, grew tense when Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC of Ekiti Central, triggered a heated debate by invoking Order 12(1) of the Senate Standing Rules.
He called for the invitation of key figures like Tanimu Yakubu, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), and Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to provide their expertise on the Tax Reform Bill to the Chamber.
Once the Senate had debated and approved two bills for second reading and sent them to the appropriate committees, Senator Bamidele introduced a motion to bring the tax experts into the Chamber. The motion was seconded by Senator Barau, who then instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure the visitors’ entry.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, APC, from Borno South, expressed strong opposition to the motion, citing Senate Rules that prevent visitors from speaking on matters not included in the day’s Order Paper.
