…Sets Two-Day National Security Summit
The Nigerian Senate has postponed the passage of four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu, opting to deliberate further and vote on them this Wednesday. The decision comes as part of efforts to allow for thorough examination of the bills, which aim to revamp the country’s tax framework and boost revenue generation.
The pending legislation includes the Nigerian Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Revenue Tax Board Bill, and the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill. These bills, submitted six months ago, have already been passed by the House of Representatives, sparking public calls for the Senate to act swiftly.
Meanwhile, in response to escalating violence across parts of Nigeria—including Plateau, Benue, and Zamfara—the Senate has agreed to organize a national security summit. The resolution followed a motion by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Senator Ibrahim warned that both global and domestic security threats are converging to worsen Nigeria’s situation. He referenced international conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and rising geopolitical tensions, linking them to increased food insecurity and setbacks in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. He urged Nigeria to reposition its global strategy and invest in both military infrastructure and innovative security planning.
Senator Mohammed Dandutse (Katsina South) backed the motion, stressing that poor intelligence sharing among security agencies was a major setback. He also highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in how security funds are allocated and used.
However, some lawmakers, including Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), expressed doubts about the usefulness of another security summit. Their skepticism was countered by Senators Titus Zam (Benue North-West) and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, who threw their weight behind the initiative.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following a voice vote, announced that the motion had been adopted by the majority. While the initial proposal was for a three-day summit, Akpabio recommended a two-day event.
An ad hoc committee will be formed to coordinate the summit in Abuja, which will include participants from all levels of government, as well as traditional rulers. The Senate also urged the federal government to reevaluate its current security strategies in line with recommendations expected from the summit.
Leave a Reply