The senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio, yesterday overruled his deputy, Mr Jibrin Barau, who had, on Wednesday announced the stoppage of further legislative action on the four controversial tax reform bills.
Akpabio, who presided the plenary yesterday, said action on the contentious bills had neither been suspended nor withdrawn.
Barau, who chaired the plenary on Wednesday, had said the lawmakers suspended public hearing and legislative work on the bills to allow for wider consultations.
He went ahead to set up a 10-man committee, led by Mr Abba Moro, to engage with the attorney general of the federation and justice minister, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, to address contentious issues in the bills.
However, Akpabio reaffirmed the commitment of the lawmakers to advance the Tax Reform Bills.
He said no aspect of the legislative process had been suspended or withdrawn.
Akpabio said the senate remained focused on its mandate to represent Nigerians’ interests and would not be intimidated by external pressures.
He dismissed reports in the media suggesting that deliberations on the bills had been suspended or withdrawn.
“The senate cannot be bullied. Any reform we are convinced serves the interest of Nigerians will proceed. These bills contain provisions that are in the best interest of the public.
“We have not suspended or withdrawn deliberations on the tax reform bills.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 said.
Akpabio further said the senate is an independent body and as such it does not “take orders from anyone or any office, no matter how highly placed.”
The senate president also said the upper house was not in a hurry and would do a thorough job on the bills before the house and had, therefore, taken further legislative actions on the bills, including the formation of a special committee, representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, to engage with the Attorney General of the Federation to address contentious issues.
The Senate President explained that public hearings and consultations with stakeholders, including governors, religious leaders, and business leaders, were 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.
Commending Senator Abba Moro, the chairman of the 10-man committee which commenced sitting as soon as the panel was announced on Wednesday, Akpabio: “I want to thank the senior Senator, Abba Moro, the chairman of the committee, because as soon as that announcement was made yesterday (Wednesday), he immediately started consultation.
“In fact, he had a meeting today (yesterday) that he set up to enable him abstract the process so that the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and members of the committee can commence public hearings either next week or as soon as practicable…And the item to be explained is that the bills are live, have not been suspended, the actions have not been suspended, the bills have not been withdrawn and the bills have passed second reading in the Senate and further legislative actions are taking place.”
