The Nigerian Senate today insisted on going ahead with the proposed Tax Reform Bill Legislative processes, debunking rumours of its withdrawal or suspension as erroneously reported by some media outfits.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, speaking against the backdrop of a point of order raised by the leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on the alleged Tax bill suspension rumours, reaffirmed the red chamber’s independence and commitment towards safeguarding the interests of Nigerians as it deliberates further on the contentious tax reform bills.

that Senator Bamidele earlier expressed displeasure over viral reports that the bills had been withdrawn, stressing that only the executive has the right to do so. He noted that the reservations raised during the debate was the reason an ad-hoc committee was constituted to look at the grey areas and report back to the senate.

The Senate also reshuffled the membership of the committee responsible for meeting with the Executive arm delegation to Address concerns raised about the tax reform bills under review. Senator Tahir Monguno, Senate chief whip, was removed from the committee and replaced by Kaka Shehu, senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District, as the Senate President explained that principal officers should not be part of the committee, as agreed by consensus during a closed-door session last week.