Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has stated that many individuals, including some lawmakers, lack an understanding of the tax reform bills. He mentioned that the contentious bills were hastily passed for a second reading to allow the public to provide feedback.
The bills, submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu earlier in September, have generated significant reactions, particularly from Northerners who believe the legislation could exacerbate economic difficulties in the region.
Northern governors, traditional leaders, and various groups have opposed the bills, arguing that they are detrimental to both the region and the country as a whole.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum expressed concerns that if the bills were enacted, governors would struggle to pay salaries, highlighting the urgency with which the National Assembly is addressing the bills.
However, Senator Barau Jibrin, who has faced considerable criticism on social media for his support of the bills, explained that the rapid passage was intended to give Nigerians the opportunity to comment on the legislation before any further actions are taken. He stated, “Due to the content of the bills, we decided to invite experts or those who developed them on behalf of the President to clarify the provisions and advise us so that Nigerians can be informed.”
He added, “The bills must pass the second reading before they can be reviewed by the committee. While we can pose questions to the committee, Nigerians who may have only seen the bills on television do not have the chance to ask questions. That’s why it was decided to pass the bills for a second reading, allowing Nigerians to comment, contribute, and ask questions.”
When asked why the bills were not first sent to the committee before the second reading, Barau responded, “No, that’s not the procedure. They must pass the second reading before being sent to the committee. The second reading allows the public to provide feedback. That’s why the bills are now presented to the committee for review and analysis.”
He emphasized, “The second reading is not the conclusion of the process; it’s where the process actually starts. It was done to enable the public—youth, children, women, clerics, and everyone—to comment and voice their concerns.”
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In response to whether lawmakers were aware of the potential hardships the bills could impose on Nigerians, Barau remarked, “No one would intentionally do something harmful to their constituents. The priority now is to understand the provisions of the bills. Most people, including some lawmakers, are not familiar with the content.”
He concluded, “We need to comprehend the bills before they can be fully understood, which is why they were sent to the committee for review. We will also invite experts to examine them, but we have not reached that stage yet.”
