The Nigerian Senate is set to pass four tax reform bills submitted by President Bola Tinubu today, Wednesday, after delaying the process to allow for thorough scrutiny and debate. The bills — the Nigerian Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Revenue Tax Board Bill, and Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill — were sent to the National Assembly six months ago as part of efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s fiscal policies and enhance revenue generation. Their delay had sparked public concern, especially after the House of Representatives approved them two weeks ago.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, the Senate also resolved to hold a two-day national security summit in response to the country’s worsening security situation. This followed a motion by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), who cited recent killings in Plateau, Benue, and Zamfara states as evidence of growing insecurity while President Tinubu was on a working visit to France.
In his argument, Ibrahim pointed to global instability driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and broader geopolitical tensions as factors worsening food insecurity and economic strife worldwide. He warned that an “economic war” may be shaping a new world order, with countries prioritizing economic survival over traditional military engagement. He emphasized the need for Nigeria to redefine its strategic global engagement and strengthen its military and security institutions accordingly.
Supporting the motion, Senator Mohammed Dandutse (Katsina South) stressed the importance of intelligence sharing and called for judicious use of security funding. However, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) opposed the summit, questioning its effectiveness. Their position was countered by Senators Titus Zam (Benue North-West) and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, who backed the proposal.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, after a voice vote, ruled in favor of the summit, proposing it be held over two days instead of the three initially suggested. An ad-hoc committee was immediately mandated to organize the event, which will include representatives from all tiers of government and traditional institutions. The Senate also called on the federal government to review and reform its security policies based on the summit’s findings.
