Kehinde Fajobi
The House of Representatives has passed President Bola Tinubu’s four tax reform bills through second reading, six months after they were submitted to the National Assembly.
The bills—the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill—were drafted based on recommendations from the Taiwo Oyedele-led Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
During plenary on Wednesday, February 12, lawmakers broadly supported the bills, but Rep. Sada Soli raised concerns about potential constitutional conflicts, particularly on derivation.
“The issue of derivation must be clearly defined to avoid any ambiguity,” he warned, expressing hope that the committee reviewing the bills would resolve such issues before they become law.
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Other lawmakers called for clarity on the 40 existing laws the bills seek to amend, demanding they be laid before Parliament.
They also raised concerns over multiple taxation, particularly a provision requiring both buyers and sellers of property to pay taxes.
The bills, which have faced resistance from northern governors and opposition politicians, will now proceed to a public hearing for further scrutiny.