By Chibiike Nwabuko
ABUJA NIGERIA – The much contentious tax reform bills , have been passed for second reading by the Senate in plenary on Thursday .
Passage of the reform bills totalling four , for second reading by the Senate , was sequel to presentations made to that effect by the Senate Leader , Senator Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central ) , in general lead debate on them .
After lead debate presentations on the bills by the Senate Leader , many of the Senators who made contributions on the bills like Senators Sani Musa ( APC Niger East), Seriake Dickson ( PDP Bayelsa West ) , Abba Moro ( PDP Benue South) and Senate Whip , Tahir Monguno ( APC Borno North ) , fully supported the bill .
But Senator Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South ) , kicked against the reform bills on the grounds of timing and lack of wider consultations .
The Senate at the session presided over by its President , Godswill Akpabio , accordingly passed the bills for second reading through voice votes .
It therefore mandated its committee on Finance , to organise Public hearing on the bill for inputs from those against the bills like the Governors’s forum , National Economic Council ( NEC ) , Northern Elders ‘ Forum ( NEF ) etc and report back within six weeks .
Details later .
