72 lawmakers, Zulum, Tambuwal oppose bills; APC defends itself as northern group protests.
The House of Representatives has indefinitely postponed the debate on the Tax Reforms Bills that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, in response to increasing pressure from governors of the 19 northern states, according to The PUNCH.
The decision to cancel the debate was communicated through a memo from the Clerk of the House, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, as 73 lawmakers from the North opposed the proposed legislation.
Among those against the bills are 48 representatives from the North-East, 24 from Kano, and former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, who serves as the representative for Sokoto South Senatorial District.
The memo, dated November 30, 2024, was titled ‘Rescheduling of Special Session on Tax Reform Bills’ and indicated that the session planned for December 3, 2024, would be postponed for further consultations with stakeholders. The new date and venue will be communicated later.
A leaked video from a closed-door House session revealed heated discussions among North-East lawmakers concerning the tax reforms. A representative from Borno State expressed concerns regarding the welfare of citizens in the conflict-affected region, highlighting the dire economic situation and asserting the importance of prioritizing the welfare of citizens above all else.
During the session, another lawmaker noted that the discussion nearly escalated into a rebellion against Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the meeting, indicating significant resistance to the bills.
The Northern Governors Forum had previously voiced opposition to certain aspects of the reform, particularly the Value Added Tax-sharing arrangement, instructing federal lawmakers to reject the bills when they were up for debate.
Despite the pushback, some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers are actively lobbying in favor of the bills, arguing that they aim to alleviate financial burdens on the poor and small businesses.
In contrast, various groups and legislative representatives from the North have expressed their concerns about the potential adverse implications of the reforms, particularly how they could exacerbate regional disparities and hamper the economic well-being of northern states.
While Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, endorsed the tax reforms, stating they could revitalize the economy, other groups contended that the proposed changes required more scrutinized public consultation to ensure they met the population’s needs.
In defending the proposed reforms, the APC emphasized the necessity of a thorough legislative process, countering claims of dictatorship surrounding President Tinubu’s role in the bill’s inception, asserting that any legislation would ultimately pass through democratic channels governed by the representatives of the people.
