The National Assembly has assured Nigerians that both the Senate and the House of Representatives will carefully scrutinize the tax reform bills currently before parliament to ensure they align with the wishes and desires of the people they represent.
This assurance was given following a meeting that started Wednesday night and extended into the early hours of Thursday, which involved the thirty-six state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The meeting was focused on a range of issues, including constitutional reforms, but did not delve deeply into tax reform.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, clarified that the issue of tax reform was not discussed in detail during the session. He noted,
“To be fair to the governors, the governors did not dwell on tax reforms; it was generally about the constitution; they spoke on the local government reforms, what we are looking at.
They were open-minded towards all the areas we are trying to look at in the Constitution.
To be honest, the governors were not so interested in tax reforms and what we are doing. We only informed them that it is before the parliament, and the parliament will look at it critically and align ourselves with the wishes of the people, the desires of the people we represent. I don’t think the governors are averse to this.”
The tax reform bills, which were transmitted to the National Assembly on September 3, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu, were based on the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele. These bills include:
Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 – This bill is designed to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country.
Tax Administration Bill – This bill aims to provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in Nigeria, reducing disputes and improving tax collection.
Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill – This bill seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service
Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill – This bill proposes the creation of a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
Kalu emphasized that the National Assembly remains committed to a thorough review of these bills, ensuring that they are aligned with the public interest and that they address Nigeria’s tax challenges effectively.
He stressed that the parliament would continue to engage with stakeholders and work to ensure the tax reform process reflects the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
As the bills move through the legislative process, the National Assembly will continue to collaborate with state governors and other key stakeholders to ensure that the tax reforms are both fair and sustainable for Nigeria’s future.