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Senate Passes Four Tax Bills For Second Reading
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed four key tax reform bills for second reading, marking a significant step towards overhauling the country’s tax system.
The bills, part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader fiscal reform agenda, were initially transmitted to the National Assembly on October 3, 2024.
In a session marked by extensive deliberation, the Senate instructed its Finance Committee to conduct a public hearing to gather input from various stakeholders, including the Governors’ Forum, the National Economic Council (NEC), and the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), who have voiced concerns over some aspects of the proposals. The committee is expected to report its findings within six weeks.
The bills are designed to address longstanding issues in Nigeria’s tax administration.
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They seek to establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud.
These bodies are intended to streamline revenue collection, harmonize tax administration, and resolve disputes more efficiently.
The session followed a closed-door meeting where lawmakers discussed the bills, which were based on recommendations from the Taiwo Oyedele-led Tax Reforms Committee.
While many Senators acknowledged the need for reforms, there were significant reservations expressed about the timing and some provisions.
Senator Ali Ndume, a vocal critic of the bills, raised concerns about their potential impact. “Reforms are necessary, I am not against any reforms. My problem is the timing as it is today in Nigeria,” Ndume said.
He highlighted issues related to VAT and derivation, arguing that some of the bill’s provisions would require constitutional amendments before they could be implemented.
Ndume said, “One will be at the public hearing and the issue of derivation because the Constitution has to be amended before some of the proposals of the Bill can be affected. This bill should be withdrawn, we work on it and submit it after getting the buy-in of the Governors, Traditional Rulers, and the NEC.”
Ndume also expressed concern about the potential unintended consequences of shifting tax burdens onto manufacturers, which could ultimately affect consumers.
“If you move a tax burden to the manufacturer, he will transfer it to the consumer. It looks attractive but it may not be what it is. If you reduce VAT from 30% to 25%, the person in Nnewi who can no longer make billions will still be taxed the same as someone who is sitting idle.”
In contrast, the Senate’s Chief Whip strongly opposed the suggestion to withdraw the bills, emphasizing the importance of moving the process forward.
“The bill should scale second reading and undergo thorough examination during the public hearing,” the Chief Whip said. “Afterward, it can be subjected to clause-by-clause consideration.”
The four bills under discussion include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, aimed at establishing a comprehensive fiscal framework for taxation; the Tax Administration Bill, which seeks to streamline tax legal frameworks and minimize disputes; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which proposes the creation of the Nigeria Revenue Service by repealing the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act; and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which would create a tax tribunal and ombudsman.
President Tinubu has emphasized that these reforms are essential to strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal institutions and aligning with his administration’s broader economic development goals.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has alerted motorists to traffic delays along Ogunnusi Road towards Ojodu-Berger due to ongoing rehabilitation work.
LASTMA disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Sunday, stating that the road rehabilitation was being carried out by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC).
According to the agency, “The ongoing work is affecting traffic flow, with vehicles moving at a slower pace in both directions.”
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To ease the situation, LASTMA said a contraflow arrangement had been introduced for motorists travelling from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction.
“A contraflow arrangement is in place for vehicles coming from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction to facilitate the movement of traffic,” the agency stated.
LASTMA added that its personnel had been deployed to manage traffic and ensure the continuous movement of vehicles around the affected area.
“Our personnel are on ground managing the traffic situation and ensuring the continuous flow of vehicular movement,” the agency said.
The traffic management authority advised motorists to remain patient and exercise caution while the rehabilitation work continues.
“Motorists are advised to exercise patience and drive with caution while the rehabilitation work continues,” LASTMA stated.
Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.
The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.
They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.
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Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.
He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.
Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.
In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.
He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.
Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.
Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has released what he described as his first piece of evidence after the Nigeria Police Force challenged him to substantiate his allegations that some police officers allegedly collaborate with kidnappers.
VDM released a video on his Instagram handle on Thursday, August 27, 2026, shortly after the police invited him to provide evidence supporting the claims he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.
SEE MORE: ‘Provide Evidence’ — Police React to VDM’s Explosive Kidnap Allegation
The activist captioned the video: “My evidence number 1.”
Recalled that VDM, who was a panellist at the NBA conference on Tuesday, had alleged that some police officers manning checkpoints along major highways provide kidnappers and bandits with information about travellers.
According to him, the officers allegedly relay details about the identities and movements of travellers to criminal groups, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom.
The allegation triggered a response from the Nigeria Police Force, which denied the claim and challenged VDM to substantiate his allegations.
The police invitation came as the force sought evidence to support the serious claims made by the social media critic.
In response, VDM released the video, describing it as his “evidence number 1”, signalling that he may provide further material to support his allegations.
The development has continued to attract attention, with the controversy placing renewed focus on allegations of possible collaboration between security personnel and criminal groups involved in kidnapping and banditry.
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