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Northern Lawmakers Signal Possible Amendments to Tax Reform Bills
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Some northern lawmakers in the House of Representatives have indicated that the Nigeria Governors Forum’s (NGF) endorsement of the revised Value-Added Tax (VAT) sharing formula in the proposed tax bills may be subject to amendments by federal lawmakers before passage.
In 2024, President Bola Tinubu submitted four tax bills to the National Assembly, following recommendations from the Presidential Taskforce on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms led by Taiwo Oyedele. The proposed bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
The bills have sparked diverse opinions, with northern leaders opposing the VAT provisions. On October 29, the Northern Governors Forum opposed the proposed tax amendment bills. Two days later, the National Economic Council advised Tinubu to withdraw the bills for broader consultations.
While the bills saw some success in the Senate, they faced stiff opposition in the House of Representatives, with over 70 northern lawmakers blocking debate on the general principles of the bills. Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governors Bala Mohammed and Babagana Zulum, argued that the reforms could harm the northern economy, particularly the VAT derivation component.
Last week, the President achieved a breakthrough at a meeting between the NGF and the Oyedele-led committee. The 36 governors proposed that VAT revenue be shared 50% based on equality, 30% on derivation, and 20% based on population.
Speaking to journalists, Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, expressed the House’s readiness to support the governors but noted that the bills might face amendments during debates. He emphasized the need for thorough scrutiny to correct fundamental drafting errors.
Joshua Gana, a PDP lawmaker from Niger State, confirmed that the northern caucus had not met over the bills, as the House is mourning the recent death of Deputy Whip Hon Adewunmi Onanuga. He added that caucuses are free to deliberate until the House reconvenes on January 28, 2025.
Terseer Ugbor, representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, echoed Gana’s position, indicating that the northern caucus has yet to take a firm stand on the governors’ support for the bills.
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is studying the tax reform proposals and plans to provide specific recommendations within 48 hours. ACF National Publicity Secretary Prof Tukur Muhammad-Buba stated that the forum is generally satisfied with the equity, population, and derivation considerations in the proposals.
The Accord Party has defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polling unit of former Osun Deputy Governor and ex-APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
According to results uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Accord secured 131 votes at Polling Unit 003, Ife Ward 1 (Moore), St. Gabriel Primary School, in Ife East Local Government Area.
The APC polled 85 votes to finish second, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded 10 votes. Other political parties obtained marginal votes at the polling unit.
The result adds to a series of early victories recorded by the Accord Party as INEC continues the uploading and collation of results across the state.
Earlier, Accord also won at the polling unit of former Osun Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
The result sheet uploaded on the IReV portal showed Accord polling 125 votes, ahead of the APC, which recorded 85 votes. The ADC secured five votes.
Meanwhile, INEC has continued to upload results from polling units across Osun State as the governorship election moves into the collation stage.
Voters across the state’s 30 local government areas cast their ballots on Saturday to elect a governor for the next four years.
The major contenders in the election include the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam.
The Accord Party has won the governorship election at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
According to the result sheet uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IReV portal, Accord polled 125 votes to emerge victorious at the polling unit.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 85 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured five votes.
The African Action Congress (AAC) scored two votes, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) each recorded one vote.
Other parties, including the AA, ADP, APGA, APM, APP, BP, NNPP and PRP, recorded no votes.
The result sheet showed that 228 voters were accredited, with 220 valid votes cast and eight rejected ballots.
The election was conducted at Court Hall I, Okuku, in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
The result comes against the backdrop of Oyinlola’s reported endorsement of the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the election.
Oyinlola, who governed Osun State from 2003 to 2010, had publicly backed Oyebamiji despite the APC candidate running against incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The outcome at Oyinlola’s polling unit therefore puts the Accord Party ahead of the APC, with Adeleke’s party failing to secure the unit despite the incumbent governor’s participation in the election.
Voting was disrupted in Ejigbo, Osun State, after violence broke out at a polling unit during the ongoing Osun State Governorship election.
It was gathered that voters, residents and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fled the polling unit as tension escalated around the area.
According to Channels TV, people were seen running in different directions while motorcycles and vehicles moved through the area as residents attempted to escape the unfolding situation.
The immediate cause of the violence was not clear, as the chaos temporarily halted the ongoing electoral process.
The incident comes as voters come out in their numbers to partake in governorship election amid tight security.
Osun Election: Accord Defeats APC in Omisore’s Polling Unit
Osun election: Oyinlola Loses Polling Unit to Accord Party
Osun election: INEC officials take to their heels as violence erupts in Ejigbo
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