NewStats: 3,265,443 , 8,186,763 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 01:17 AM 4b651r

Northern senators have called for the suspension of further legislative action on the controversial Tax Reform Bills, which recently ed second reading in the Senate.

The lawmakers made this demand during a meeting on Monday, citing potential adverse effects on northern states.

The House of Representatives had at the weekend announced that it has suspended debate on the bills due to public outcry and resistance from some northern lawmakers.

The proposed tax laws, submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the parliament, have sparked heated debates nationwide.

Critics, including northern governors, traditional rulers, and lawmakers, had urged the president to withdraw the bills for broader consultation. But the president insisted that the bills should be allowed to undergo legislative process.

Senator Buba Umaru Shehu, All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi State, who revealed the outcome of the northern senators’ meeting in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service yesterday, said northern senators from both the ruling APC and the opposition parties agreed on the need for the suspension of action on the proposals.

“These bills are complex and require thorough review by tax policy experts,” he said.

He criticised the perceived haste in advancing the bills, which were deliberated on for only a few days.

Senator Shehu said northern lawmakers strongly oppose the proposed “derivation” formula in the value added tax (VAT) distribution system, arguing that northern states would be unfairly impacted.

He warned that ing the bills without careful review could have long-term consequences.

Also confirming their decision to Daily Trust yesterday, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) said the northern senators met with their governors and other leaders where they agreed to advise for the withdrawal of the tax reform bills for further consultations and buy-in.

He said this was in line with the suggestions of traditional rulers and the National Economic Council (NEC), adding that state assemblies in the region would also voice out their objections soon.

He equally said some provisions in the bills clashed with the Nigerian constitution and would not stand.

“I am surprised that the motion which we agreed was not mentioned today (Tuesday) at the plenary, but I am hopeful that tomorrow (Wednesday), the Chief Whip of the Senate (Tahir Monguno) will bring a motion for the withdrawal of the bills as agreed in that meeting.

“This is not the first time such a thing has been done; some good examples include the water resource bill when our friends from the South raised concerns and it was withdrawn. We had the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which was withdrawn on several occasions in the House of Representatives and the Senate before it was finally ed after more than ten years.

“As I said before and I will repeat it, why the hurry? This is something that should be done after wide consultation because it requires the buy-in of all stakeholders,” he said.

Ndume also dismissed the claim in some quarters that they were using the tax reform imbroglio to play politics ahead of 2027.

“No; somebody has to be principled. Politically, I am the second oldest legislator in the National Assembly. I am used to saying it as it is. I am not playing the script of anybody. If I have any political leader today, (former president, Muhammadu) Buhari is supposed to be number one and then President Tinubu. I cannot speak against them but I can disagree with them,” he said.

In the House of Representatives, where the deliberations on the proposed laws have been suspended, Rep. Muhammad Bello Shehu Fagge said “We’ve observed the public’s anger over the bill and the strong reactions from our religious leaders, which is why we decided to suspend the debate,” he said.

The controversial bills had been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further review. The committee, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger) is expected to subject them to a public hearing to get inputs from experts and of the public.

Reps’ spokesman silenced over for bills

The House of Representatives witnessed a rowdy session yesterday following a ing remark by its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi (Ekiti, APC) in of the contentious tax reform bills.

Rotimi, while presenting a report on behalf of the House Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, prefaced his remarks by saying, “I am from Ekiti State, the very first state in the NASS Caucus that has unanimously endorsed the tax reform bills.”

This comment drew immediate backlash from his colleagues, with many shouting “No, no!” to express their disapproval. The session became chaotic as lawmakers objected to Rotimi continuing with his presentation.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen attempted to defuse the situation, calling the statement a “light note” and withdrawing it on Rotimi’s behalf. He urged lawmakers to focus on the proceedings and allow Rotimi to continue, but the uproar persisted.

The Speaker said: “Hon. Rotimi, you know this is a controversial issue. I wouldn’t want you to mention things that are not relevant to the subject matter. So, please, on your behalf, I withdraw that statement. Let us not repeat it again.”

Despite the intervention, the lawmakers’ opposition intensified, forcing Rotimi to step down from presenting the report.

To restore order, the Speaker called for the House to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for report consideration.

The speaker then handed over proceedings to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu to continue the session.

https://dailytrust.com/tax-reform-northern-senators-demand-suspension-of-action-on-bills/

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Tinubu please your bill ..

Just sort the north and your bill. .. Yoruba people said, you always have your way.. in anything ans everything as their god and apple of their eyes .

Congratulations in advance .

Arewa to the world.

So,the Yorubas and the north need the body language of the igbos before deciding wether to fight themselves or not? Reverse psychology doesn’t work on the average igboman!
Y’all will continue to watch your backs and stand on your toes till you can stand no more!!
Igbo-phobia is damn real!!

Una go fight tire

This man no be GEJ

Las Las, una go rest

We've got a strong guy with the ball of steel at the helm of affairs

Frigga13:


Just sort the north and your bill. .. Yoruba people said, you always have your way.. in anything ans everything as their god and apple of their eyes .

How old are you,bro?

You seem to make every sensible topics tribal

Now every sensible Nigerians will know d root source of our problem, these people just want to b eating free money without working n always take d largest share without doing anything at d expense of d south

If u are a southerner n by now u can't see through d northern facade then u need brain surgery

North should get to know that they can't have their ways all the time, not with this bill.

The table is now turning around, we expected you people to be calm as others have also endured enough

They should suspend it. Nobody can trust Tinubu on this. He should go away with his policy.

Wonders shall never cease! Reno Omokri, the agent the devil has been using to divide the country and sow seed of discord among Nigerians, is ironically asking people not to cause division by speaking negatively against the northerners.

You are asking people not to speak negatively about the northerners; but you can drag and speak vile things about Igbos and still instigate other regions to do same.

Reno Omokri is the walking billboard for hypocrisy! Anyone who takes him seriously is doing so at his own peril!

All because he doesn't want to get into the bad books of northerners, he would pretend to love Islam more than his own religion. You will never see Reno speak positively about Christianity. Oya convert to Islam.. for where??

That guy is very dangerous to have around you!

The North has never been this aggressive to government policies in the last ten years but for the fact that they feel this one won't favour them, then let it be discarded..

Tinubu and his people are too cunning.. He filled so many positions at the federal level with people from Lagos and they feel it's an opportunity to maximize national resources at the expense of others..

Just initiate the division of the country and let everybody rest

I haven't come across any AREWA on Nairaland aggressively pushing the news of North being against the proposed tax bill.🤔 Do a simple case study, it is all those Igbo monikers that are pushing the anti-tax bill by a few Northerners on Social Media. For how long will you people hid behind Hausas/Fulanis?

WHY DO YOU PEOPLE LOVE SO MUCH MISCHIEF.

Okay na

Zico5:
They should suspend it. Nobody can trust Tinubu on this. He should go away with his policy.

isn't it annoying that it's u people that have been crying that u don't want your resources b used in developing other regions that are against this bill?

If u are sane u should b happy now that northerners won't sit in d comfort of their homes n share oil proceeds from d south again

Use your head n think about it, how can people b destroying beer n closing bet shops n still b spending proceeds of beer n betting?

U have always shouted u are tired of d parasitic north n here u have d opportunity u are insulting tinubu again instead of praising him n embracing d bill to seperate u n north

Don't worry...

States will win at the Supreme Court...

This same issue of derivation Tax is at the court..instituted by some state Governors..


Now, the FGN is trying to give everyone some political solutions that will benefit all..

If the Supreme Court rules in favour of these States..

Na that time Una eye go clear

The reforms is not a 100 percent flawless. There are some grey areas that needs to be fine tuned but saying that the bill is total bad is nonsense

The north is used to be spoon fed and that's why they are in opposition

I appreciate that this bill needs some modifications but if they should block it, then the court case in the supreme Court where states like rivers and lagos are clamoring for resource control would be activated

So it's either you eat oil because of yam or you eat yam because of oil

Zico5:
They should suspend it. Nobody can trust Tinubu on this. He should go away with his policy.

This is beyond your comprehension capacity. Kindly stick to your wailing career. Thanks

Let them tell us how the bill will harm the north.

Not emotional blackmail

Frigga13:
Tinubu please your bill ..

Just sort the north and your bill. .. Yoruba people said, you always have your way.. in anything ans everything as their god and apple of their eyes .

Congratulations in advance .

Arewa to the world.

Frigga13 this op is also Igbo, with numerous monikers on NL.

Hmm

They should suspend the bill abeg.

Cause how will you propose to increase VAT to 15%?!

That's madness!

And, it's really deceitful that the government is saying those earning below N800,000 per annum won't pay tax but even those earning the minimum wage of N70,000 will pay tax cause they earn N840,000 per annum
Cause N70,000 × 12 = N840,000

So, everybody will pay tax!
Deceitful!

Image123:


At least, we'll no longer complain that the Senate is rubber stamp, i hope.
It's actually those earning below 1million naira per annum. Plus, many states and private organizations pay far below 70,000. They all become tax free. They are not everybody i guess.

I think you should go through the tax drat or listen to the town hall meeting that hosted Oyedele. Its N800,000

Then, as for those private organizations paying below N70,000 monthly. Check it, the employees don't pay tax. Nothing changes in that regard.

When we said there is more to this tax bill than Taiwo and Oyedele is making it like egusi and pounded yam. This tax bill will be worse than LASG Alphabeta collabo.

No comment

I just pray this tax reform bill is ed to law. Let the north fully us in boothing this shit man out. 🙏

Who are northern think they are that can determine how things should go in the country, anything that is for the progress of the country is welcome.

They should either accept that now or start their referendum also like the Biafra and Oduduwa

This north is just dragging NIGERIA backwards

After second reading what next?

Lol... Otilo jare.

This bill must be ed. Enough of parasitism by a certain section of the country

Nonsense!!!

adioolayi:
Don't worry...

States will win at the Supreme Court...

This same issue of derivation Tax is at the court..instituted by some state Governors..


Now, the FGN is trying to give everyone some political solutions that will benefit all..

If the Supreme Court rules in favour of these States..

Na that time Una eye go clear

I agree with you. Rivers already won at the high court and appeal court.

with this kind of mentality and approach to sensitive issues that can improve our dear country, We have a long way to go in developing this country. The region that contribute zero to Nigeria oil revenue generation but takes the largest share in of allocation don't wanna pay VAT. shame

NLCreator666:


https://dailytrust.com/tax-reform-northern-senators-demand-suspension-of-action-on-bills/

Now, we are all witnessing it. When it comes to issues that are perceived to affect the North, they set aside their political and religious differences, come together, and speak with one voice. This unity is not the same in the South. As a result, the North will continue to decide the direction of this country indefinitely.

Softmirror:

Frigga13 this op is also Igbo, with numerous monikers on NL.

I don’t reply ladies?
Stay off my mention

Which tribe do you think I am?