The Senate on Wednesday stopped public hearing on the controversial tax reform bill.
The Green chamber has however referred the bill to a committee headed by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) to scrutinise and address the grey areas in the tax reform bills.
The ad-hoc committee is to report back to the committee of the whole before public hearing on the bills can commence.
The Deputy Senate President Barau I Jibrin (APC, Kano North) announced this during plenary on Wednesday.
Barau who presided over the session said there were controversies over the bills, adding that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of consulting with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the executive arm and other critical stakeholders.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on October 3, 2024, transmitted to the National Assembly, four tax reform bills, in a letter, read by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajuddeen Abbas, during separate plenaries of the two chambers.
Tinubu said the bills would strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal institutions.
He said that they were in line with his government’s broader development objectives for the country.
But Nigerians, including governors, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, some federal lawmakers, and others, have kicked against the bills.
Barau also named Senators Titus Zam (APC, Benue North West), Orjir Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), Abdullahi Yahaha (Kebbi North), among others, as members of the committee.
