The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday at plenary witnessed a session of disagreement on decision by senate leadership to admit into the chamber some tax experts to address lawmakers on the proposed Tax Reform Bills.
The tax experts team are the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zaccheus Adedeji Adedeji, Mr.Tanimu Yakubu, the Director General of the Budget Office, and the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Mr. Taiwo Oyedele,
Voice of Nigeria Correspondent reports that the altercation among lawmakers began after Senate leader Senate Michael Opeyemi (APC-Ekiti ),moved a motion for suspension of Senate rules to allow the admittance of the tax experts into the chamber.
However, Senator Abdul Ningi, (PDP-Bauchi) was quick to raise an objection, citing order 12 of the senate rules who said there was no provision that allowed non-senators to enter the chamber while plenary was on.
Collaborating Senator Ningi’s observations, Senator Mohammed Ndume.(APC-Borno) said it was against the rule of Senate to allow strangers into plenary without prior reflection the decision in the days order paper.
Deputy president of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin,(APC-Kano),who presided over the plenary explained that the team were at the chamber at the invitation of the Senate for an open discussion on the four Tax Reform Bills.
Senator Ndume ‘s position resulted into war of words between him and Senator Jibrin, as the Deputy President of Senate ruled out the former Senate Chief Whip out of order.
The tax expert team were later allowed into the Chamber to give more clarifications on the proposed tax reform Bills.
The tax Bills which are with the National Assembly include: the Nigeria Tax Bill , the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (amendment) bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill and the Joint Revenue Board ( establishment ) bill.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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