Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a meeting has clarified that legislative action regarding the four contentious tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu has not been suspended or withdrawn, contradicting earlier statements made by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau.
During a plenary session, Barau had announced the suspension of public hearings and legislative activities on the bills to allow for broader consultations.
He also established a ten-member committee, headed by Senator Abba Moro, tasked with engaging the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to discuss and resolve contentious issues surrounding the proposed reforms.
However, the Senate, under Akpabio’s leadership, emphasized its commitment to progressing with the Tax Reform Bills, emphasizing that no part of the legislative process had been halted or retracted.
This clarification coincided with a show of support from senators representing the South-South geopolitical zone, who, as part of the South-South Senators’ Forum, expressed their backing for the tax reform initiatives. They passed a vote of confidence in Akpabio and urged South-South governors to collaborate with lawmakers to refine the bills and ensure alignment on the proposed changes.
