The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has said the majority of Nigerians, including some lawmakers, do not understand the contents of the Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
Senator Barau made this known to the BBC Hausa Service following the criticism of the bills by several Nigerians, both high and low.
He said: “Because of the contents of the bills, we decided to invite experts or the people who developed them on behalf of the President to explain to us the provisions of the bills and also advise us so that Nigerians will know about it.
“The bills have to scale the second reading before they could be taken to the committee for a review.
“And while we could ask (the committee) questions, Nigerians who might have only watched it on the television could not have room to ask questions.
“That was why it was resolved that the bills would be passed for the second reading so that Nigerians would have the chance to comment, give their contributions and also ask questions.”
When asked why the bills were not first presented to the committee before passing them for the second reading, Barau said: “No, it is not done that way.
“It has to pass the second reading before it can be taken to the committee.
“The second reading is done so that the public can have room to pass their comments on it.
“That is why the bills were presented to the committee now so that they will review, x-ray it and tell us the contents therein.
“The second reading is not the end of the process.
“No, that is even where the process begins.
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“And it was done in order to enable the public: youth, children, women, clerics and everyone, to comment and register their complaints about it.”
On whether lawmakers were aware of the hardship the bills could subject Nigerians to, Barau said: “Nobody will do something that will have a negative impact on his people.
“The issue now is to first know the provisions of the bills.
“Majority of people don’t even know the contents therein, even some of our lawmakers.
“We have to first have a grasp of the bills before they would be understood.
“That was why it was sent to the committee for them to review so that we know the situation.
“We will also invite experts to go through it.
“But we have not gotten to that level now.”