Senator Shehu Sani Drops Bombshell As National Assembly Postpones Public Hearing On Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills
Following the recent postponement of the public hearing on President Bola Tinubu’ s controversial tax reform bills, Shehu Sani, a former Senator of Kaduna, has weighed in on the matter. Sani took to social media platform X, expressing his views on the delay, comparing it to the postponement of a crucial surgery.
In his tweet, he remarked, ” Postponing the public hearing on the Tax Reform Bill is like shifting the date of Surgery to another date. ” The Tax Reform Bill, which has sparked significant debate, has faced strong opposition, particularly from Northern leaders, including governors, lawmakers, and other influential figures.
Critics from the region argue that the proposed tax changes will worsen the economic hardships already faced by Northern Nigeria. This backlash has led the National Assembly to defer the public hearing, allowing more time for the committee to review certain aspects of the bill and provide recommendations.
While the postponement offers a brief respite, the Tax Reform Bill remains a contentious issue. Some experts, however, have suggested that many of the critics have not fully read or understood the provisions of the bill.
Instead, they have been swayed by misinformation circulating among certain interest groups. These experts assert that a more informed discussion is needed to understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of the proposed reforms.
The bill had already passed its second reading in the Senate before the postponement. Following the debate on its general principles, the lawmakers referred it to the Senate Committee on Finance, led by Senator Sani Musa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Niger State. The bills moved swiftly through the legislative process, despite the ongoing opposition.
In a notable development, the debate took a dramatic turn when Taiwo Oyedele, chairperson of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, appeared before the Senate to explain the rationale behind the reforms. His appearance, along with other officials, sparked anger among some senators, including Ali Ndume from APC Borno South. The tension escalated, with Ndume leading a vocal opposition to the bills.
Meanwhile, in a show of public discontent, some religious leaders also voiced their opposition to the bill during the Friday Jumm’ at congregational prayer. Clerics, including Professor Mansur Ibrahim from Sokoto State, criticised the speed with which the tax reform bills were advancing through the National Assembly.
Ibrahim expressed concern that the bill’ s contents were still largely unknown to many Nigerians and alleged that the reforms were being pushed through in secrecy. Ibrahim also accused President Tinubu of favouring Lagos State over others, claiming the reforms would disproportionately benefit the state.
He further suggested that the president was not being equitable to other states, particularly those in the North, which had supported him during the election. His statements echoed the belief that there were hidden agendas behind the bill, a sentiment shared by some critics who question the fairness of the reforms.
