₦airaland Forum

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio stated during plenary on Thursday that the upper chamber remains focused on its mandate to represent Nigerians’ interests and will not be intimidated by external pressures.

Against the backdrop of a point of order raised by the leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Akpabio dismissed reports in the media suggesting that deliberations on the bills have been suspended or withdrawn.

Dismissing any attempts to pressure the chamber, the Senate President also stated that, “the Senate cannot be bullied. Any reform that we are convinced serves the interest of Nigerians will proceed. These bills contain provisions that are in the best interest of the public.”

The Senate leader in his remarks, equally cautioned against misinformation from social media or media reports, urging the public to focus on facts.

“We have not suspended or withdrawn deliberations on the tax reform bills. Any attempt to intimidate the Senate is undemocratic. These bills are executive communications, and only the executive arm can withdraw them. We remain steadfast in our legislative responsibilities.”

He again underscored the legislature’s independence, stating that, “We don’t take orders from anyone or any office, no matter how highly placed.”

Senator Akpabio underscored that the Senate is not in a hurry and will do a thorough job on the bills before the house and has therefore taken further legislative actions on the bills, including the formation of a special committee representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to engage with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to address contentious issues.

The Senate President explained that public hearings and consultations with stakeholders, including governors, religious leaders, and business leaders are imperative to resolve any uncertainties.

“If six weeks are insufficient, we will extend the time. We are committed to transparency and addressing all concerns,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Senate set up a committee to to review the controversial Tax Reform Bills that are before the National Assembly.

According to Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary on Wednesday, the Committee which is headed by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) will meet with the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to address grey areas in the bills and revert to Senate before public hearing.

Barau noted that the executive arm of the government agreed with the Senate that there is need to resolve all the issues causing disagreements in the bills.

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu forwarded four Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly in October, it has met serious resistance especially from the Northern part of the country.

RevFrNoah:
Tinubu can't be trusted. That's the problem.

TrackerSK:
North thought they are smart.They gave us buhari and Ahmed lawan,in return we gave them tinubu and Akpabio.They started crying.You thought only you guys have dumb and useless leaders in your region?

Softmirror:
🤗 Frigga13 don dey cry o.......😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Hahahahaha. I can remember how Igbos were against Akpabio becoming Senate President. They queued behind their Hausa Fulani masters Hahahahaha but God pass them.

Frigga13:
k.

Softmirror:
😭😭😭😭😭

Frigga13:

Kukutente23:

I thought one clown said Akpabio will just hit the gavel and the bill is passed.
Why all the shalaye now?

Frigga13:
The west thought all this is as easy as the their propaganda made them them believe

… they idea of the seeing Tinubu as god .. and savior or apple of their eyes brought to federal to do their wish .. is the greatest deceit of southwest media

That bill will never be passed till those sections that particularly favors them is purged and out .. even as that .. tell me who will trust this Yoruba administration again.

Reality over propaganda.. but them no believe

Like Obasanjo third term bill… like Tinubu tax reform bill

They wan give with left ans collect all with right

TrackerSK:
North thought they are smart.They gave us buhari and Ahmed lawan,in return we gave them tinubu and Akpabio.They started crying.You thought only you guys have dumb and useless leaders in your region?

Kukutente23:

I thought one clown said Akpabio will just hit the gavel and the bill is passed.
Why all the shalaye now?

gaby:
As appealing and encouraging as the said tax bill might want to be presented, it is evident for the truly discerning to see that it is impossible to build on a "shaky or zero foundation".

How do you place the cart before the horse and expect to have a "pull"?

Anyone can seat in his personal space and begin to conjure up things in his/her head on how to fix the rotten system, but the moment you get in there you'd begin to understand that changing the rules of a game in the middle of it is what Nigeria's problems are and it will always elicit hues and cries from each region depending on what one intends to tinker with.

First of, the composition/setup of the "crime scene" including the "Bible" (constitution) by which it is being run aground has no semblance to "democracy" nor reasonable contribution by the majority of the people to be governed by it in terms of equity, fairness, and justice.

The constitution which was supposed to be the bedrock/foundation upon which every other brick needed to be placed is wholesomely warped in its entirety. Let's also not forget to remember the reason why it was easy to achieve such a constitution that stands to favor a few and the political elites. Most of the contents of the current constitution were military decrees deliberately and meticulously designed for ease of resource and power control.

This criminal setup is what is at play at all levels of government today particularly at the legislature as regards this tax reform bill. The Nays and the Ayes know and have their numbers and times such as their are when they truly come to play.

In my opinion, if there is to be any headway towards attempting to begin to salvage whatever is left of this country, the current constitution is where the start needs to be, and no, this can't be achieved by any current "democratic" government because the vehicle and system that'd usher in any government today is equally as tainted and shambolic as the current constitution.

Only a military government can undo what a military government did by the same decree and for this to hold root such a regime would need years in power to ingrain and consolidate such balanced changes. Only then will we begin to hope to see the equity, fairness, and justice that we all crave.

No democratic government can achieve a reform such as this one that touches on the core of the "feeding bottle" even in 8 years with the current setup. It will be chaotic.