The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has dismissed criticisms of the proposed Tax Reform Bills, asserting that many critics, including some lawmakers, lack a full understanding of the bills submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in September.
This development coincides with support for the reforms from a northern socio-economic organization, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT), which has endorsed the administration’s tax initiatives.
Senator Jibrin explained that the bills were expedited for a second reading to encourage public input and debate. However, the proposed legislation has sparked concern, particularly in the northern region, where some fear it could exacerbate economic challenges.
Notably, northern governors, traditional leaders, and various interest groups have voiced opposition, describing the bills as detrimental to the region’s development and the nation as a whole.
During an interview with BBC Hausa last Friday, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum expressed fears that the reforms could hinder governors’ ability to pay salaries if implemented. He also questioned the urgency with which the National Assembly advanced the bills.
Addressing these concerns in a separate interview with BBC Hausa, Senator Jibrin clarified that passing the bills through the second reading was essential to provide Nigerians an opportunity to engage with the content before further legislative action.
He stated: “Because of the contents of the bills, we decided to invite experts or the people who developed them on behalf of the President to explain to us the provisions of the bills and also advise us so that Nigerians will know about it.
“The bills have to scale the second reading before they can be taken to the committee for a review. And while we could ask (the committee) questions, Nigerians who might have only watched it on the television could not have room to ask questions. That was why it was resolved that the bills would be passed for the second reading so that Nigerians would have the chance to comment, give their contributions and also ask questions.”
When asked why the bills were not referred to a committee before the second reading, he replied: “No, it is not done that way. It has to pass the second reading before it can be taken to the committee. The second reading is done so that the public can have room to pass their comments on it. That is why the bills were presented to the committee now so that they will review, X-ray it and tell us the contents therein.
“The second reading is not the end of the process. No, that is even where the process begins. And it was done to enable the public (youth, children, women, clerics and everyone) to comment and register their complaints about it.”
On whether lawmakers were aware of potential hardships from the reforms, Jibrin responded: “Nobody will do something that will harm his people. The issue now is to first know the provisions of the bills. The majority of people don’t even know the contents therein, even some of our lawmakers.
“We have to first have a grasp of the bills before they would be understood; that was why it was sent to the committee for them to review so that we know the situation. We will also invite experts to go through it, but we have not gotten to that level now.”
Meanwhile, the Arewa Think Tank has expressed its support for the tax reforms, urging northern leaders to collaborate with the federal government and lawmakers to amend the constitution, enabling states to harness their mineral resources for regional development.
In a statement signed by its convener, Muhammad Yakubu, the group encouraged northern stakeholders to view the reforms as an opportunity to address economic challenges creatively and innovatively.
“We disagree with the position that these reforms will set the northern region back,” the statement read. “Tax reform has the potential to develop the North comprehensively. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other stakeholders to proceed with enacting these bills into law.”
The group also lauded the efficient progression of the bills, contrasting it with the delays experienced by previous legislation.
“For us at Arewa Think Tank, we are enjoying the speedy and smooth passage to the current phase when other bills had to spend several years to scale through. This shows that there are big fortunes and prospects in the tax reform bills,” Yakubu noted.
The group maintained that the reforms could empower the northern states to leverage their natural resources and urged northern leaders to seize this opportunity for economic transformation.
