The South East Caucus in the Senate on Monday threw its weight behind the Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
They, however, joined other groups of stakeholders in the polity who have called for wider consultations on the Bills pending for consideration and possible passage by both Chambers of the National Assembly .
Leader of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( APGA Abia South), who spoke to newsmen after a closed door meeting with Senators from the entire five South – Eastern States held in his office, said Senators from the South East are not against the bills but want wider consultations to be carried out on them before full consideration at both chambers .
” As much as the entire Senators from the South East are not against the Tax Reform Bills before both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration, we want wider consultations to be carried out on them .
“Specifically, we need to consult with our constituents across the 15 Senatorial Districts in the Zone , with our state governments and other critical stakeholders .
“We have read through the bills and want to share our knowledge with other stakeholders from the South East Zone for a much more equitable framework in the bills that would eventually be passed .
“We are not against the bills but need to consult with our people,” Senator Abaribe said.
It would be recalled that the Tax Reforms bills which comprise Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024 , Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024; have generated controversies in the polity since October 3, 2024 , when President Bola Tinubu forwarded them to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for consideration .
While the Presidency and the South – South caucus in the Senate are calling for immediate consideration of the bills, other stakeholders in the polity like the Nigerian Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President; the Nigerian Governors’ Forum; the Northern Senators’ Caucus and Arewa Consultative Forum, among others, advocate wider consultations before the bills are considered by the National Assembly.
