The Nigerian Senate has formed a special committee led by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) to engage with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in addressing issues surrounding four contentious tax reform bills. The bills, which have sparked opposition from Northern governors, civil society groups, and lawmakers, aim to restructure the nation’s fiscal framework but have been criticized as divisive and insufficiently inclusive.
Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North), presiding over Wednesday’s plenary, emphasized the need for a united approach to address these disagreements. The Senate has temporarily halted further legislative action on the bills, including public hearings, pending the outcome of the meeting with the AGF scheduled for Thursday.
The committee includes key senators across political lines, such as Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) and Muhammadu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central). Their mandate is to bridge gaps, resolve disputes, and ensure the bills align with the collective interest of all Nigerians.
The proposed tax reform bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. These bills aim to streamline tax administration, enhance efficiency, and establish new regulatory bodies, including a tax tribunal and ombudsman.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who introduced the bills, argued they are critical for strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal institutions and achieving his government’s broader development objectives. However, opposition groups argue that the bills lack comprehensive stakeholder engagement and risk deepening public dissatisfaction.
Senator Barau stressed that resolving the impasse is essential for maintaining unity and fostering economic progress. “We must put politics, ethnicity, and regionalism aside to find a way forward,” he said, reaffirming the Senate’s role as a stabilizing force in Nigeria’s democracy.
While some lawmakers have criticized the creation of a special committee as unprecedented, Barau maintained that dialogue with the AGF represents a pragmatic approach to addressing the contentious issues before the bills are revisited in the Senate.
