The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has explained the reasoning behind the Senate’s decision to pass President Bola Tinubu’s controversial tax reform bills for a second reading.
In an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Jibrin clarified that the decision was made to allow experts and all Nigerians the opportunity to contribute their perspectives on the bills. He emphasized that the passage to the second reading was not an endorsement, but rather a step toward further discussion and analysis.
Last month, President Tinubu sent four tax reform bills to the National Assembly, which sparked backlash, particularly from northern governors and other stakeholders who raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed reforms. Despite the opposition, the Senate passed the four bills for a second reading on Thursday via voice votes.
Jibrin stated that the Senate’s goal was to open the floor for input from all relevant parties, ensuring that a thorough and informed debate would take place before any final decisions are made on the bills.
