The 10th Senate has delayed the passage of President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills until Wednesday to allow for more thorough debate and examination.
The four bills — the Nigerian Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Revenue Tax Board Bill, and Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill — were submitted to the National Assembly by President Tinubu six months ago as part of his administration’s fiscal reform agenda aimed at improving revenue generation.
While the House of Representatives approved the bills two weeks ago, prompting pressure on the Senate to act, Senate leadership opted to delay the final passage to ensure due diligence.
Senate to Hold Two-Day National Security Summit Amid Rising Insecurity
In a separate development, the Senate has resolved to hold a two-day national security summit in Abuja to tackle the worsening security crisis across the country. The decision came after a motion sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The resolution follows renewed killings by bandits in Plateau, Benue, and Zamfara States during President Tinubu’s trip to France, which triggered public outcry and calls for him to return and take direct charge of the fight against insecurity.
Leading the debate, Senator Ibrahim highlighted how global instability — including the Russia-Ukraine war and rising geopolitical tensions — has worsened food insecurity and disrupted efforts to meet global development goals. He warned that the current wave of global economic conflict and shifting alliances demands a clear Nigerian strategy in foreign affairs and security planning.
Senators Debate Nigeria’s Role in Emerging Global Order
Senator Ibrahim argued that the world is entering a new geopolitical order where militarism may be replaced by economic warfare, visa restrictions, and citizenship-for-sale schemes. He called on the Senate to play a stronger advisory role to the executive and push for better military funding and reform.
Backing the motion, Senator Mohammed Dandutse (APC, Katsina South) blamed poor coordination among security agencies and emphasized the need for peace as a precondition for national development.
Some Lawmakers Oppose Summit Proposal
However, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) and Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central) voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of a national security summit, questioning whether it would lead to actionable outcomes.
Their objections were countered by Senators Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-West) and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), who supported the motion, insisting that the worsening security situation demands fresh thinking and collaboration across all levels of government.
Summit to Include Government, Security, and Traditional Stakeholders
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, after putting the motion to a voice vote, ruled in favor of the summit. He proposed a two-day event — reduced from the initially proposed three days — and directed the creation of an ad-hoc committee to organize the summit.
The summit is expected to include representatives from federal, state, and local governments, as well as traditional rulers and other stakeholders. The Senate also called on the federal government to review and overhaul existing security policies in line with recommendations that will emerge from the summit.
