Northern senators have called for a halt on further action regarding the controversial Tax Reform Bills, which recently passed their second reading in the Senate. The lawmakers, meeting on Monday, expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of the proposed reforms on northern states.
This request follows the House of Representatives’ decision to suspend debate on the bills due to public outcry and resistance from northern lawmakers. The proposed tax laws, submitted by President Bola Tinubu, have sparked nationwide debate.
Critics, including northern governors, lawmakers, and traditional rulers, have urged the president to withdraw the bills for broader consultations. However, President Tinubu has maintained that the bills should continue through the legislative process.
Senator Buba Umaru Shehu, from Bauchi State (APC), revealed the outcome of the northern senators’ meeting in an interview with BBC Hausa Service. He said senators from both the ruling APC and the opposition parties agreed that the tax reform bills need further scrutiny by tax policy experts before any decision is made.
Shehu criticized the haste in advancing the bills, which were debated for only a few days. He also voiced opposition to the proposed VAT distribution formula, arguing that it would unfairly impact northern states. He warned that rushing the bills without careful review could lead to long-term consequences.
Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) confirmed the decision, noting that northern leaders, including governors and traditional rulers, supported the suspension for further consultations. Ndume stressed that some provisions in the bills conflicted with the Nigerian constitution and would not stand.
He expressed surprise that a motion for the withdrawal of the bills was not raised during the Senate plenary but hoped the Chief Whip would bring it forward in the coming days. Ndume recalled previous instances where controversial bills were withdrawn after consultations, including the Water Resources Bill and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
He dismissed claims that northern lawmakers were using the issue for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections. “I am not playing anyone’s script,” he said. “I speak my mind, and this is about the future of the region, not politics.”
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, where the debate on the tax reforms has been suspended, Rep. Muhammad Bello Shehu Fagge noted that public anger and strong reactions from religious leaders led to the decision to pause discussions on the bills.
The bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further review, with a public hearing scheduled to gather input from experts and the public.
In the House of Representatives, a heated session ensued after spokesperson Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti) expressed support for the bills. His comments were met with backlash, and the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened, urging lawmakers to stay focused on the issue at hand. Rotimi eventually stepped down from presenting his report, and the session resumed under the Deputy Speaker’s leadership.
