Tax reform bills scale second reading at house of reps

Our reporter/ The tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu passed the second reading at the house of representatives on Tuesday.

The four bills — Nigeria Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, Joint Revenue Board Establishment bill, and the Nigeria.

The bill, having scaled second reading, would now be subjected to a public hearing.

The new tax bills were enveloped in widespread controversy and sparked scathing criticisms and stiff opposition from many, including northern governors and opposition politicians who demanded their withdrawal from the National Assembly.

At plenary on Wednesday, speaker after speaker supported the bill, but a lawmaker, Sada Soli, feared that some sections of the new bills might contradict the 1999 constitution.

The issue of derivation, according to Soli, must be clearly defined to avoid any ambiguity.

He was hopeful that the committee saddled with the responsibility to scrutinise the bills would address the issues that might arise before the bills are passed.

Also, other lawmakers drew attention to the 40 acts which the bill sought to amend and requested that they should be laid before Parliament. The lawmakers said the issue of multiple taxation involving property purchase provided in the bill should be addressed, as the provision stated that the buyer and seller must pay tax.