By Uzair Adam
The House of Representatives has indefinitely postponed its planned special session on tax reform bills, originally scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
This development was disclosed by the House Clerk, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, in an internal memo circulated to lawmakers on Saturday.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, had earlier announced that the session would focus on deliberating the four tax bills currently before the National Assembly.
These include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
However, the House leadership decided to delay the session to allow for more comprehensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including state governors and regional representatives, who have voiced strong opposition to the proposed legislation.
The memo reads, “I am directed by the House Leadership to inform all Honourable Members that the Special Session, initially scheduled for Tuesday, 3rd December 2024, to discuss all the Tax Reform Bills, has been postponed to a later date.
“This rescheduling is due to the need for further and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
“A new date and venue for the session will be communicated in due course. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.”
The Daily Reality learned that the bills have faced significant pushback, particularly from the 36 state governors and northern stakeholders, who are demanding a review of the proposed laws, citing concerns over their impact on state revenues and regional interests.