The controversies over the impropriety or otherwise of the Tax Reforms Bill currently before the National Assembly are far from being over, as the Senate Thursday declared that it can’t be intimidated to suspend or withdraw the proposed law forwarded by the executive arm of government.
Rather, the Red Chamber said it was committed to advancing legislative processes on the documents.
Speaking during plenary on the reported withdrawal of the bills, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said they remained focused on their mandate to represent Nigerians’ interests and will not be intimidated by external pressures.
Akpabio, who was responding to the Point of Order raised by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), over the media reports that the bills have either been suspended or withdrawn, dismissed any attempts to pressure the chamber from taking such action, more so when they are executive bills.
“The Senate cannot be bullied. Any reform that we are convinced serves the interest of Nigerians will proceed. These bills contain provisions that are in the best interest of the public,” he said.
Akpabio said the Senate was not in a hurry and would do a thorough job on the bills, just as it had taken further legislative actions on them, including the formation of a special committee representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, to engage with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to address contentious issues around the bills.
The Senate President described public hearings and consultations with stakeholders, including governors, traditional and religious leaders, as well as business leaders, as imperative to resolve any uncertainties.
“If six weeks are insufficient, we will extend the time. We are committed to transparency and addressing all concerns,” he said.
…Leader cautions on misinformation
Earlier, the Senate Leader had, while coming under Order 42, cautioned against misinformation from social media or media reports, urging the public to focus on facts.
Bamidele told the plenary news medium report that “the hallowed chamber suspended further consideration of the tax reform bills before the Senate.”
He said: “Nowhere in our votes and proceedings was it stated that we suspended further deliberations on the tax reform bills, because we did not.
“I felt it will be important to place on record that this Senate did not suspend or withdraw. This Senate did not suspend and does not intend to suspend deliberation and consideration of the tax reform bills.
“It was a misunderstanding of the legislative process for anybody to have even reported that we have withdrawn the bills.
“The bills were executive bills, transmitted to us by the executive arm of government through the office of Mr President.
“It is only the executive arm that can withdraw these bills. They are not private member bills sponsored by any senator.
“So no senator is going to withdraw the bill, and there is no reason for these bills to be withdrawn. In a legislative process, it is normal that some people will have concerns.”
Bamidele added: “Six weeks is long enough in a country that wants progress for a consensus to be reached for anybody who has concern to sit down and allow such concern to be addressed in overriding public interest.
“So the essence of what I am saying is that it is important that members of the public are patient with us. They understand the legislative process that we have to follow. They understand our role in the Constitution.
“Any attempt from any quarter to intimidate the parliament will be undemocratic, and we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.
“We will encourage consensus. We will encourage discussions and engagement at all levels.”
“We have not suspended or withdrawn deliberations on the tax reform bills. Any attempt to intimidate the Senate is undemocratic. These bills are executive communications, and only the executive arm can withdraw them. We remain steadfast in our legislative responsibilities,” he further added.
While underscoring the legislature’s independence, he said “we don’t take orders from anyone or any office, no matter how highly placed.”
…Senate rejigs committee
Meanwhile the Senate has tinkered with the 10- man committee set up to liaise with the Presidency on grey areas in the Tax Reform Bills.
It specifically, as moved by its Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, removed its whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North) from the committee and replaced him with Senator Shehu Kaka (APC Borno Central).
It, however, retained the Senate Minority Leader , Senator Abba Moro (PDP Benue South) as leader of the committee which has others senators like Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central), Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Titus Zam (APC Benue South), Abdullahi Yahaya (PDP Kebbi North ), Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West), Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) and Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East) as members.
This followed concerns raised by the senators during plenary that principal officers should not be part of the meeting as it was not the agreement reached at a closed-door session held last week before the Tax Reform Bills passed second reading.
On this, Akpabio acknowledged, saying none of the principal officers would be part of the meeting between the lawmakers and the federal government’s delegation for the sake of transparency.
The Senate president therefore proposed Shehu Kaka Lawan in place of Monguno and that principal officers should also be dropped.
“Replace Mohammed Tahir Monguno with the name of Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, to represent the Northeast interest, and then we should delete page 11, including the principal officer,” he said.
Consequent upon this, Akpabio put the request to a vote and majority senators supported it through voice vote, and said to the Minority leader who chairs the committee: “So please, replace Senator Monguno with Senator Kaka Shehu, and delete the principal officers. Senator Abba Moro, you are still the chairman, and continue your work, and then you’ll revert to the Senate.”
The Senate had Wednesday set up a committee to review the controversial Tax Reform Bills that are before the National Assembly.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary, said the committee would meet with the AGF to address grey areas in the bills and revert to Senate before public hearing.
He disclosed that the executive arm of government agreed with the Senate that there was need to resolve all the issues causing disagreements in the bills.
