By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Senate has passed four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu for second reading.
The Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, led the debate that paved the way for second reading of the bills on the floor of the Red Chamber on Thursday.
Bamidele who has been at the forefront of the campaign for the passage of the bills argued that they would simplify the tax landscape, reduce the burden on small businesses, and streamline how taxes are collected.
“It will eliminate double taxation. In the area of tax exemption of the salaries below the minimum wage,” the senate leader said.
“It is proposed that the state governments share 55 percent of VAT from 15 percent. There is a reasonable effort to establish core tax statutes in the bill.”
Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa west, said the discovery of oil in Nigeria did not allow the country have a good taxation system as a means of revenue.
“I am aware that some issues have been raised and that is legitimate,” he said.
“There is nothing wrong in saying that phone calls are made in Sokoto are calculated are paid to those states. We should ensure that this is transparent.”
Also speaking, Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, said the bills should be stood down for further legislative work.
“Reforms are necessary if we have to move forward. My problem is number one is timing. Number two, the issue of derivation and VAT,” he said.
“The constitution has to be amended for some of these provisions to be effected.”
Countering Ndume’s position, Tahir Monguno, chief whip, said the bills should not be withdrawn and that changes could be made during the public hearing on them.
“These bills will reduce the tax burden on Nigerians,” he said.
The bill were passed after Senate President Godswill Akpabio put them to a vote.
Tinubu asked the National Assembly to consider and pass the bills in October.But members of the National Economic Council had on October advised Tinubu to withdraw the bills and allow necessary consultations to take place.
Tinubu, however, turned down the advice and refused to withdraw the bills .
