‘Hard Working’ Federal Lawmakers Again Proceed On Leave Amid Tax Reform Controversy

Amid ongoing debates about the tax reform bills that President Bola Tinubu submitted to the National Assembly, both houses unexpectedly decided to suspend their sessions until November 19.

This surprise move has led to speculation, especially following strong criticism from various stakeholders, including state governors and senators, regarding the proposed tax changes.

The Senate had initially planned to conduct a first reading of the tax bill on Wednesday, and it was listed on the agenda. However, the focus shifted to the screening and confirmation of President Tinubu’s seven new ministerial nominees, leading to the postponement of the tax bill. By Thursday, the bill was notably absent from the Senate’s agenda.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for an unscheduled closed-door session after brief discussions on Thursday. This session, which lasted for two hours, was reportedly held to discuss issues deemed “urgent national importance” concerning the tax reform proposals. When the Senate reconvened, they only reviewed a report from their committee on agricultural institutions and decided to postpone all other agenda items.

Soon after, Akpabio unexpectedly adjourned the session, announcing that plenary would not resume until November 19, during which time senators would focus on their oversight and committee responsibilities.

This unexpected adjournment follows pushback from several key senators, including Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and Dandutse Muntari (APC, Katsina South). During a recent meeting of the Senate Finance Committee, Zacch Adedeji, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), tried to explain the goals of the reform bills, assuring lawmakers that the changes would not create additional tax burdens. However, some committee members argued that this was not the right time for such reforms, given the financial difficulties many citizens are facing.

The decision to take a legislative break is unusual, as lawmakers typically avoid recesses at this time of year in order to review budget proposals and related financial documents from the president.

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