The Senate on Thursday passed the four tax bills for second reading through voice votes.
On October 3, President Tinubu Bola forwarded the four tax reform legislation to the National Assembly for review.
Governors from the North and other interested parties opposed the tax reforms, which led to controversy. The Presidency expressed concern over the situation and clarified that the bills were intended to advance national development rather than to target any one area.
As part of Tinubu’s comprehensive tax reform plan, the Senate passed a Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud through a second reading. The proposed law aims to organize, harmonize, and settle disagreements on Nigeria’s revenue management.
The session saw lawmakers deliberating on the general principles of the tax reform bills. Earlier, the Senate had gone into a closed-door session to discuss the four bills transmitted by President Tinubu on September 3, 2024, following the recommendations of the Taiwo Oyedele-led Tax Reforms Committee.
While the reforms were generally acknowledged as critical to overhauling Nigeria’s tax system and reducing the tax burden on citizens, Sen. Ali Ndume expressed reservations about the timing and certain provisions of the bill.
