The South East Caucus in the Senate has called for broader consultations on the Tax Reform Bills currently pending before the National Assembly. 

This was disclosed by the caucus leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), during a press briefing after a closed-door meeting with senators from the five South Eastern states in his office on Tuesday.

Abaribe emphasized that while the South East senators are not opposed to the proposed reforms, they believe wider engagement with constituents and critical stakeholders is necessary before a final decision is made in both chambers of the National Assembly.

“While we are not against the Tax Reform Bills currently before both chambers of the National Assembly, we believe wider consultations must be carried out,” Abaribe stated.

He highlighted the importance of engaging with stakeholders across the South East’s 15 senatorial districts, including state governments and regional actors, to ensure the legislation aligns with the region’s economic realities and aspirations.

“We have carefully reviewed the bills and feel it is essential to share our insights with stakeholders in the South East to ensure a more equitable framework in the eventual legislation. This is about ensuring that the bills serve all Nigerians fairly, particularly our region,” Abaribe added.

The caucus leader noted that the meeting had extensively reviewed the proposed reforms and discussed plans to gather input from their constituents. The South East senators expressed concerns that the current draft of the bills might not adequately address the region’s unique economic circumstances.