The Southeast caucus of the Senate has expressed support for the Tax Reform Bills currently before both chambers of the National Assembly.
The caucus, however, emphasized the need for broader consultations with constituents and critical stakeholders before the bills are passed.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia South), leader of the Southeast caucus, disclosed this to reporters following a closed-door meeting held in his office in Abuja on Monday, December 9.
During the media briefing, Abaribe clarified that while Southeast senators are not opposed to the bills, they believe more extensive consultations are necessary to ensure a fair and inclusive framework.
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“As much as the entire Senators from the Southeast are not against the Tax Reform Bills before both chambers of the National Assembly, we want wider consultations to be carried out on them,” Abaribe stated.
He further explained that the caucus plans to engage constituents across the 15 senatorial districts in the Southeast, as well as state governments and other stakeholders, to gather input on the proposed reforms.
“We have read through the bills and want to share our knowledge with other stakeholders from the Southeast Zone for a more equitable framework in the bills that would eventually be passed. We are not against the bills but need to consult with our people,” Abaribe emphasized.
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The Tax Reform Bills—comprising the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024—were submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, 2024. Since then, the bills have sparked debates across the country.
While the Presidency and the South-South caucus in the Senate advocate for the bills’ immediate passage, other groups, such as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Northern Senators, and the Arewa Consultative Forum, have called for more extensive consultations.
