The Southern caucus in the House of Representatives has declared its support for the tax reforms bills introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
The leader of the caucus, Rep. Nicholas Mutu (PDP-Delta), made this known at a news conference yesterday (Tuesday, December 10) in Abuja, the FCT.
NAN reports that the bills seek to provide fiscal framework as well as clear and concise legal frameworks for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes in tax administration
It would be recalled that all the 36 State Governors have demanded the withdrawal of the bills, citing the need for more consultations and public inputs.
But, Mutu said that the caucus welcomes the bills and is ready to commence legislative actions on them.
Rep. Fred Agbedi (PDP-Bayelsa), in his remark, said that it is the responsibility of the House of Representatives and the Senate to receive proposals of any sort of bill from either the Executive or the individual bills.
He said that once the National Assembly receives proposals, they go through house procedures, and processes, and then the public is invited here.
“The President has sent an executive bill, what the southern caucus is saying is that we are ready to take up our official responsibility of making laws for the nation.
“We welcome the bill and that as we process it, imputes are made from our various states and constituencies.
“Some states have already received those imputes, and so we are in consonance with our constituents and the states that we represent. And so we are ready to work to ensure that we give a better tax law to Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, Rep. Benson Babajim (APC-Lagos state), said that the caucus is open to negotiations with other groups who are opposed to the bills.
He said that all opposing groups should be willing to engage and shift ground for the general good of the country.
