Drama unfolded yesterday in the Senate chambers as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic team addressed lawmakers to rally support for the proposed Tax Reform Bills.
The session, led by prominent figures such as Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zaccheus Adedeji, Director-General of the Budget Office Tanimu Yakubu, and Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Taiwo Oyedele, was aimed at clarifying details of the bills and ensuring widespread legislative backing.
Key Moments in the SessionThe day’s events took a dramatic turn when Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion under matters of urgent public importance.
Invoking Rule 12 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders, he requested that the floor privileges be suspended to allow non-Senate members – including Adedeji, Yakubu, and others – to address the chamber.
Bamidele argued that these individuals, referred to as “strangers” under parliamentary terminology, were essential to providing clarity on the Tax Reform Bills to lawmakers and the general public.
He also noted that the House of Representatives had undertaken a similar briefing for its members.
However, the motion faced opposition. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi) challenged the legality of allowing “strangers” into the chamber, stating that their presence was not listed in the day’s Order Paper.
His objection was supported by Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno), who cited Order 38, arguing that the invitation breached Senate procedures.
A Compromise ReachedDeputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, clarified that Bamidele’s motion was for the suspension of the standing order rather than its direct invocation.
To strengthen his argument, Bamidele referred to Rule 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders, which permits the Senate to regulate its proceedings in cases where existing rules do not apply.
Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP Benue) supported Bamidele’s motion, and with this backing, the Senate moved forward to admit the experts into the chamber.
Advocating for Tax ReformsOnce admitted, the economic team urged the lawmakers to support the Tax Reform Bills, emphasizing their importance for Nigeria’s economic stability.
Zaccheus Adedeji and Taiwo Oyedele highlighted how the reforms had undergone consultations with state governors and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with national fiscal goals.
Despite initial resistance, the briefing marked a significant step in advancing discussions on the Tax Reform Bills in the National Assembly.
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