The Southern caucus of the House of Representatives expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue regarding the tax reform bills currently before parliament. In a press briefing in Abuja, the leader of the caucus, Nicholas Mutu, highlighted that the members had unanimously welcomed the bills, acknowledging their potential benefits for Nigeria, while also emphasizing the need for further discussions to address any concerns.
Mutu stated, “As the Southern caucus, we have met and welcomed the tax reform bills with enthusiasm. At the appropriate time, we will incorporate the people’s concerns that may be missing in these bills. We are open to dialogue, but we are not yet stating our support. This is just the first step in the process, and we aim to refine the proposals through dialogue.”
Addressing questions about the legislative process, Fredrick Agbedi explained that the House of Representatives and the Senate were responsible for reviewing and processing bills received from the executive or individual lawmakers. “Once a bill is presented, it goes through the necessary legislative processes, and the public is invited to contribute,” Agbedi said. “The Southern caucus is committed to fulfilling its role in lawmaking. We welcome the bill and are working to ensure that inputs from our states and constituencies are incorporated to create a better tax law for Nigeria.”
Agbedi also stressed that the National Assembly’s duty is to create laws that benefit the entire country, transcending regional divides. He added that the lawmaking process involves thorough scrutiny, amendments, and innovations to ensure the final bill meets the nation’s needs.
In further remarks, Babajimi Benson emphasized that while national bills might spark differing interests, it was the responsibility of the House to facilitate dialogue and find common ground. He referenced past negotiations, such as the introduction of the 13% derivation for oil-producing states, as examples of how collaborative efforts could yield positive results for the country. Benson assured that the caucus would work diligently to ensure the tax reform bills are thoroughly examined and refined for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The tax reform bills, which have already been signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, are now set to undergo a series of legislative processes, including public hearings, before any final amendments are made and passed into law.
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