Senate resumes to begin work on Tax Reform Bills, Rivers crisis

Senate resumes to begin work on Tax Reform Bills, Rivers crisis

The passage of the Tax Reform Bills, reconciliation of the warring parties in Rivers State and how to tackle the resurgence of Boko Haram in the Northeast are on top of the agenda of the Senate as it resumes from the Eid-el-Fitri and Easter holidays.

The Red Chamber said it will also continue work on constitution review and the amendment of the Electoral Act.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

He said: “As scheduled, the National Assembly will resume plenary today, (May 6, 2025), to continue with the pursuit of the mandate of the electorate.

“First on our agenda is the further consideration of the Tax Reform Bills, 2024. Its passage has become imperative to reform the country’s tax regime and shore up the revenue of the federation.

“This will also help governments at all levels to implement projects and deliver the dividends of democracy.

“As we resume back, the Senate will work with the Executive to resolve all the lingering socio-political issues across the federation, including the situation in Rivers State.

“The essence is to ensure that all stakeholders come to terms on the need to address the root causes of those issues and ensure proper reconciliation of all key actors in the overriding public interest.

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“The recent resurgence of insecurity in different parts of the federation, especially Benue, Borno, Katsina, and Plateau, has caught our attention.

“As the foremost democratic institution that makes laws for the peace, order and good government of the federation, the Senate will speed engagement with key actors in the security sector and come up with mechanisms for the effective management of national security.

“We are committed to putting an end to all acts of terrorism across the federation.”

Bamidele said the Senate would also screen the nominees President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed during the National Assembly’s recess.

“While the Senate was in recess, the Presidency announced a number of appointments, including the management of the South-South Development Commission.

“On this ground, we will be screening nominees of the President for different appointments that require the approval of the Senate.

“The review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is going on steady. Now that we have resumed, the Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jubrin, will speed up the review process with a view to strengthening our federal structure in the interest of all.

“Likewise, the Senate will kick-start the review of the Electoral Act, 2022, for the conduct of a more credible and transparent election.

“Finally, we have Bills of strategic national interest that are pending before the Senate on different sectors of the economy.

“There is an urgent need to consider those Bills and ensure their passage expeditiously.

“We will also encourage our special and standing committees to put in place public hearings that will give us the opportunity to engage with the electorate on various aspects of law-making and give their own inputs.”

Senate resumes to begin work on Tax Reform Bills, Rivers crisis