Stakeholders across the country are using the current Christmas and New Year period to review and discuss the controversial Tax Reform Bills ahead of resumption of debate on the bills by the National Assembly early in 2025.
It is understood that governors and federal legislators have been reaching out to critical interest groups and individuals in their states and constituencies to feel their pulse on the matter, reports The Nation.
While the issue appears almost settled in the South West, South East and South-South with the governors and the NASS caucuses from the three geo-political zones expressing their support, it continues to generate intense opposition in the North East, North West and North Central.
Only on Christmas Day, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed said in Bauchi that the planned tax reforms were not good for northern Nigeria because “we are not going to get money to pay you salaries.”
The federal government, he said, “must listen to us! They must not come up with a policy that favours only one state in the country.”
He added: “It is not about religion. It is not about tribe. It is about national unity. It is about national hegemony.
“We are all about good leadership, and we will continue to urge them for the time being. But if the situation persists, they will see our real colour.”
The Senate suspended action on the tax reform bills on December 4 and mandated its ad-hoc committee chaired by Abba Moro to meet with the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to resolve contentious clauses of the bills. These include those dealing with derivative and VAT sharing formula.
The Senate also asked its Finance Committee to stay action on public hearing on the issue to enable it address public agitation first.
Some zonal caucuses in the Senate which did not directly oppose the bills said they would be engaging with their constituents during the ongoing Christmas and New Year break.
A source close to the Nigerian Southern Senators Forum told our correspondent yesterday that the Yuletide celebration had delayed the commencement of meaningful consultations between Senators and their constituents.
“As far as I know, nobody’s doing any consultation at the moment. Everybody is concentrating their efforts on satisfying their constituents during this Yuletide,” the source said.
“The pressure of Yuletide is really too much for anybody to talk about the Bills. I believe things will kick off in the new year before the resumption of plenary,” the source added.
Another source close to the South East Senate caucus said the holiday was not a hindrance as Senators were working at different levels to engage their constituents.
He also said the good thing is that since the Governor’s Forum has endorsed the Bills, the Senators would work to be in sync with their governors.
“Even though some senators have gone on holidays, they are equally doing things at other levels,” the source said.
“You know that most of these consultations will take place in their homes and those of their constituents. They will consult individually before they articulate their positions.”
“But I don’t think they are against the Bills. They want to carry out further consultations.
