By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Yesterday, the Senate directed its finance committee to postpone its proposed public hearing on the tax reform bills until all the areas of concern raised by critics regarding the proposed legislation are correctly sorted.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, stated this at plenary yesterday and specifically asked the Senate Committee on Finance to hold the proposed public hearing for now.
He said a Senate team will meet today (Thursday) with a delegation of the Federal Government led by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Barau said, “It’s on this note that the Committee on Finance to which the bills have been referred should put further action on them on hold—public hearing and other issues—until we resolve these issues.
“All sides will be given the opportunity, and we shall resolve the issues before anything is allowed to go.”
Barau said the proposed meeting with the AGF aimed to resolve the criticisms of the proposed tax reform bills before the two chambers of the National Assembly.
He said the meeting would be held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja and that lawmakers needed to interact extensively with government officials before passing the tax reform bills.
He said the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, will lead the senators in the meeting.
According to the deputy senator president, other senators who will attend the meeting are the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, Adamu Ailero (PDP, Kebbi Central), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West).
Others are, Titus Zam (Benue South), Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi), Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West), Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) and Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East).
Barau said, “Of the tax reform bills that are before us. This aligned with the fact that we always understand that this Senate is the highest assembly in this country.
“The Senate is composed of men and women of wisdom, of pedigree that this country has entrusted to legislate for them for the peace and tranquillity and the development of this country.
“The Senate of the Federal Republic, as known by everyone and other Senates in the world, is known to be the stabilisers of every country.
“When there are difficulties and disagreements, the Senate of this country comes in with solutions through dialogue and consensus at all times to solve such problems, and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been doing that since 1999.
“Because of this, we decided to put politics, ethnicity, and regionalism aside to sit among ourselves and find the way forward concerning the issues surrounding the tax reform bills.
“It is on this note that we extended our view to the executive arm of government, and it was agreed that there should be a forum to sit down to look at the areas that are creating disagreements to resolve them so that the entire country will remain united – united in our effort to solve our problems.
“Before introducing these bills, we know we’ve been faced with several problems and insecurity that we’ve been trying to solve. The president has been trying, and we’re also working with him to solve issues about our economy, which aligns with global economic problems.
“We also agree that we shouldn’t allow anything else to aggravate our country’s problems. It is on this note that the executive has agreed and also by us that there should be a forum that will sit with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) so that we can sit down and sort out all these problems in the interest of this nation.
“It is, therefore, proposed that by Thursday (today), there will be a meeting with the committee that we’ve set up here and the leadership to sit with the Attorney General of the Federation to look at those issues and resolve them.”
*Meets Attorney General Friday to address areas of concern
President Bola Tinubu directed the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday to work with the National Assembly to address some of the fears generated by the Tax Reform Bill before the Legislature.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in his statement in Abuja.
He said the nationwide debate on the new tax reform bills was commendable.
He, however, pointed out that much misinformation and fake news circulated about the tax bills and the Tinubu Administration’s overall reform agenda.
*Senate summons Keyamo, others over flight delays, cancellations
The Senate yesterday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and other stakeholders in the sector over the rampant cases of flight cancellations and delays in the industry.
The resolution followed the adoption and approval of a motion by Senator Abdul-Fatai Buhari, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, who represents Oyo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
In his motion, “Incessant Delayed and Cancelled Flights by Airline Operators in Nigeria, “The Senator drew his colleagues’ attention to this worrisome development.
Buhari noted a series of print, electronic, and social media reports on the ongoing delay and cancellation of flights by Airline operators in Nigeria.
He said the situation ceaselessly seemed to be on the increase in recent times.
He said, “The Senate notes that this development is worrisome as air travel is one of the most reliable, dependable, and quicker means of transportation.
“Air travels are often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep to other scheduled appointments, which are usually time-bound.
“Therefore, unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to this country’s socio-economic growth and development.
“The Senate further notes that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the aviation sector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is statutorily empowered, through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight.
“It also produced guidelines to ensure that airlines operate within the contemplation of international standards in Nigeria and that airline customers get value for the services they pay the airlines for.
“The Senate observes that the quests for economic diversification and foreign direct investment, which are parts of the current administration’s policy thrust, will remain an illusion if the country’s aviation industry falls short of acceptable best practices across the globe.
“The Senate is aware that part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023 makes provisions for consumer protection in the Civil Aviation industry in Nigeria.
“However, enforcement has been an issue for most Nigerians, who are not even aware that they are entitled to compensation for time lost due to unnecessary delay, hence the need for the NCAA to activate this aspect of its Regulation so that Airline operators will seat up and be alive to their responsibilities.”
After a robust debate, the Senate mandated its Committee on Aviation to invite the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to interface with its members.
The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Airline Operators, and other relevant stakeholders were mandated to appear before the panel.
The essence of the engagement is to unravel the circumstances behind the incessant flight delays and cancellations and find lasting solutions to the problem.
The motion was supported by the Senate’s Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, the Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and Deputy Senator President Jibrin Barau.
