Finally, Senate clears the air on Tax laws, says legislations not adulterated

Mandates Clerk of Senate to distribute gazetted copies of Tax Reform Acts to all senators

To discuss Nigeria/US security partnership behind closed doors

Emeka Agu with agency reports

The Senate, on Wednesday, finally put to rest speculations that there were other versions of the new Tax laws in circulation.

According to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the tax laws which took effect in January were not adulterated.

Akpabio made the clarification during plenary on Wednesday, dismissing speculations that there were other versions of the laws in circulation.

He said: “I understand that there is another version that was circulating around, which was not in compliance with what was contained in our votes and proceedings.

“There is no adulteration. So I mean at this stage now, you can feel bold enough to discard anything that is to the contrary.

“There are about four Acts. So the four Acts are ready and gazetted, and signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly to avoid confusion,” he said.

Consequently, Akpabio mandated the Clerk of the Senate to distribute the gazetted copies of the Tax Reform Acts signed by the president to all the senators.

“So every senator is expected to go home with one today. And then those who are not here, we will distribute them directly to the senators.

“This Act should not be given to any other person. It must be given by the Clerk to the Senate and certified by the Clerk of the National Assembly to avoid any confusion.

“So, you take it directly from us. This has taken cognizance of what happened in the House of Representatives, in the votes and proceedings. And also what happened in the Senate and what happened in the committee on harmonisation, and signed by Mr President,” he said.

Also at plenary, the upper chamber deferred the consideration of the report of the Committee on Electoral Matters to enable lawmakers study it.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, had said that the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Simon Lalong, was not immediately available.

“But copies have been circulated. We will allow senators to go home with the report and study it, and when we come tomorrow, we will hold a brief closed-door session and debate the critical clauses of the bill and pass it,” Bamidele stated.

In his response, Akpabio said: “We don’t need to rush the report. We will take our time and do the needful, and ensure justice is done for all and sundry”.

In another development, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said that the lawmakers will be briefed on the Nigeria/U.S. security partnership behind closed doors.

This followed a Point of Order on Privileges raised by Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) on Wednesday at plenary.

Ningi had cautioned that any alleged foreign military strike on Nigerian territory without due constitutional process amounts to a grave breach of Nigeria’s sovereignty and the authority of the National Assembly.

The Bauchi lawmaker was referring to a Christmas day bombing of terrorists hideouts in Sokoto State by United States (US) forces in collaboration with Nigerian security agencies.

Ningi, invoking Senate precedence and privilege in plenary under matters of privilege, demanded that the issue should be taken immediately.

He stressed that the 1999 Constitution vests legislative powers primarily in the National Assembly, ahead of the executive and the judiciary.

Quoting the constitution, the Bauchi lawmaker read, “The legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be vested in a National Assembly of the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives”.

He added that the legislature was empowered to make laws for the “peace, order and good government of the federation.”

Ningi alleged that the December strike within Nigerian territory by the United States military is “a complete violation” of the Nigerian Constitution and a complete breach of the United Nations Charter.”

According to him, only the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is constitutionally empowered to authorise any military action within Nigeria.

He explained, “The title of Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces is not ceremonial, it is not a guy thing. It is to give the President such powers to control the armed forces and give them order.”

He noted that foreign forces could only be invited to align with Nigerian troops, who must retain operational control.

The lawmaker added that the legislature has a constitutional duty to speak regardless of the intentions or outcomes of the alleged strike.

“The executive acts but the legislature must talk. This assembly has a core responsibility in governance.

“This assembly has a core accountability in governance,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to demand an immediate security briefing.

“The President of the Senate and indeed the National Assembly leadership must take a brief from the security agencies as to what happened and why this matter happened,” he said.

Responding, Akpabio cautioned against further debate on the issue in open session, noting that Ningi had raised a matter of privilege, not a motion for general contribution.

“I don’t want anybody to contribute, and you have gone ahead to argue your issue. You are debating your issue. No contribution is required,” Akpabio said.

He disclosed that after reviewing the relevant constitutional provisions, the Senate leadership had concluded that Ningi’s privilege had not been breached.

“I’ve read Section 9, I understand it, and I was about to let you know that your privilege has not yet been breached,” he said.

Akpabio explained that the matter involved sensitive security issues that could not be discussed publicly, insisting that a closed session was more appropriate.

“Because it’s a matter of security, we really should not discuss it in the open. We should have a closed session so that we will be well briefed,” he said.

He explained that the Senate was unable to hold such a session earlier due to time constraints following the loss of a senator during the chamber’s first sitting.