Why Reps suspended debate on tax reform bills indefinitely 

The House of Representatives has revealed why it suspended the debate on the Tax Reform Bills scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, indefinitely.

This was disclosed in a memo signed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria. The suspension was informed by the need for further and broader consultations.

The suspension of the debate comes amid opposition from 73 northern lawmakers, including 48 House of Representatives members from the North-East, 24 federal lawmakers from Kano, and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, who represents the Sokoto South Senatorial District.

President Bola Tinubu, on October 13, transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration, following the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, headed by Taiwo Oyedele, for the review of existing tax laws.

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The four bills include: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman for the harmonization, coordination, and settlement of disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria, and for related matters, 2024.”

“A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No. 13, 2007, and enact the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act to Establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, charged with powers of assessment, collection, and accounting for revenue accruing to the Government of the Federation, and for related matters, 2024.”

“A Bill for an Act to Provide for the assessment, collection, and accounting for revenue accruing to the Federation, Federal, States, and Local Governments; prescribe the powers and functions of tax authorities, and for related matters, 2024.”

“A Bill for an Act to Repeal certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the legal frameworks relating to taxation, and enact the Nigeria Tax Act to provide for the taxation of income, transactions, and instruments, and related matters, 2024.”