Crack in NASS as House Committee boycott joint public hearing on Finance Bill

There is a brewing power tussle between the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, Tribune Online has learnt.

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance have boycotted the public hearing on the Nigeria Tax Law ( Amendment Bill) called the Finance Bill 2019.

Findings revealed that members of the Green Chamber in the Committee on Finance led by Honourable James Faleke shunned the press briefing held on Monday ahead of Tuesday public hearing.

Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Adeola Olamilekan led his team to the session which had the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed amongst others in attendance. Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo Agege, represented the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

A National Assembly source revealed that the boycott of the public hearing by the House of Representatives was on the directive of the Speaker, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila who asked the lawmakers from the Green Chamber to stay away from the public hearing.

The source further revealed that individual members of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives received a memo from the office of Honourable Gbajabiamila who was peeved that he was only informed about the public hearing on Monday.

The unfolding cold war may, however, threaten passage of the 2020 Budget as its passage is tied to the passage of the seven bills expected to raise the revenue base of the Federal Government.

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There have been pressures on the leadership of the Senate for fast-track of the Finance Bills.

The Bills include Petroleum Profit Tax, Custom and Excise Tariff Act, Company Income Tax Act, Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax, Stamp Duties Act and Capital Gain Tax.

Some of the lawmakers had last week openly expressed reservations over the hurried approach by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan in handling the Finance Bill.

No copy of the bill was shared to senators to allow for any contribution before it was debated and passed for second reading.

Senator Binos Yaroe from Adamawa State, drew the attention of the Senate to its rules which requires that all senators must have a copy of the bill before it was deliberated upon.

“Our rules say that printed copies of the bill shall as soon as possible be sent to every Senator. We are at the stage of the second reading of this bill. I don’t know for others but I have not received the bill, I don’t know how we can debate a bill that we have not received,” the Adamawa lawmaker had stated.

The Senate President noted his point but proceeded with debate on the Bill.