Senate didn’t suspend Tax Reform Bills – Bamidele
Senate Leader Bamidele
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified on Thursday that the Senate had neither suspended nor withdrawn its deliberations on the 2024 Tax Reform Bills, contrary to certain media reports.
Addressing the Senate during plenary, Bamidele explained that a special committee, chaired by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, had been constituted on Wednesday to address unresolved issues in the proposed tax reforms.
The committee was tasked with engaging the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to resolve concerns surrounding the Bills.
Bamidele criticised media reports suggesting that the Senate had abandoned the Tax Reform Bills. He invoked Order 42 of the Senate Rules and Sections 60 and 62 (1-4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to correct the record.
“No part of the votes and proceedings of the Senate indicated that further deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024, had been suspended or withdrawn,” Bamidele stated.
Bamidele emphasised that the Bills were submitted by the Federal Executive Council through the Office of the President and were not private member bills. He underscored the Senate’s commitment to operating within its constitutional framework.
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He said: “Whatever we are doing is in accordance with the provision of our constitution. We are the legislative arm of government. We take our instruction and guidance from the 1999 Constitution and not from any other institution or individual, no matter how highly placed, not even from the governors or any other person than the 1999 Constitution.”
Referring to a media report that allegedly claimed the Senate had suspended its deliberations, Bamidele explained: “The media platform even invited the Nasarawa State Governor, Mr Abdullahi Sule, pointedly telling the governor that the Senate had withdrawn the Bills. This is a misunderstanding of the legislative process. The Bills are executive bills transmitted by the Executive Arm of Government through the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Only the Executive Arm can withdraw these Bills, not any Senator.”
Rejecting Intimidation
Bamidele warned against attempts to pressure or misrepresent the Senate’s legislative intent, calling such actions undemocratic.
He added: “We will encourage consensus, discussion, and engagement at all levels. But we cannot be bullied into adopting a certain procedure not consistent with the rules and proceedings of the Senate.”
The Senate Leader reiterated that the Tax Reform Bills were still under active consideration and discussions. He further assured that the upper chamber remained committed to addressing concerns raised during the legislative process while staying true to its mandate.
“As far as we are concerned, the Tax Reform Bills, 2024, are still alive in the Senate. The Bills are equally receiving consideration at various levels. And we are open to further discussion, consideration, and engagement on the Bills,” he said.
