OrderPaper’s Legislative Intelligence Unit can reasonably forecast that the national assembly will continue debates on the controversial tax bills, the 2025 budget benchmarks contained in the MTEF and the unfortunate boat mishap in Niger state.
As the National Assembly gears up for a new plenary week, expectations are that it will engage in conversations to address matters of importance to the country.
Lawmakers are expected to tackle pressing topics which may include the tax bills, considerations of the 2025 budget benchmark in the MTEF, rampant incidents of delayed and cancelled domestic flights, confirmation of the new Chief of Army Staff, building demolitions in Abuja, and the tragic boat mishap in Niger state, amongst others.
Tinubu’s controversial tax bills
Last week, the House of Representatives suspended debate on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills earlier fixed for Tuesday, November 26, 2024. After about two hours of a closed door session, the House resolved to seek further consultation on the bills, disclosing that resource persons will be invited to a special session this Tuesday, December 3, 2024 to enlighten lawmakers on the benefits of the proposed legislations to Nigeria’s economy and what every part of the country stands to gain from the tax reforms. Recall that the Senate on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 invited President Tinubu’s economic team to brief them on what the bill entails and the need to pass it. Following the briefing, the Senate went ahead to pass the four bills for second reading despite resistance from northern governors, and calls for it to be stepped down for further consultation by Sen. Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) on the grounds of timing and lack of wider consultations. Just as the House has indicated, it will, in this new week, follow the steps of the Senate to invite an expert team to brief members on the bills.
2025 budget benchmarks
The senate will consider the 2025 budget benchmarks contained in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) and possibly approve it this week. Recall that the joint committees on finance and national planning & economic affairs had an interactive session with agencies of the federal government. Recall also that the House of Representatives presented the report of the joint committee last Wednesday and subsequently passed the MTEF/FSP. However, the Senate was unable to attend to the committee’s report last week despite having included it as part of the business of the day on the order paper. It is expected that the report will be presented this week by the committee’s chairman, Sen. Sani Musa (APC, Niger East). It is important to note that according to the MTEF, the proposed budget for 2025 is N47.9n, with new borrowings of $2.2bn included to partly finance the N9.7tn budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year.
READ ALSO: MTEF: What it means and why it matters
Abuja building demolitions
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the demolition of duplexes and bungalows allegedly illegally erected in some areas in Abuja. This has led to several protests in the nation’s capital calling for an end to the demolition. Recall that the House of Representatives last week called for urgent measures to address Nigeria’s housing deficit and homelessness crisis. According to reports, over 25,000 families were wrongfully relocated and declared internally displaced and more than 1,500 habitable buildings were reportedly destroyed. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was accused by the Home Builders Association of Nigeria (HBAN) of illegally demolishing more than 100 homes in Sabon Lugbe, an Abuja satellite town. According to the developers, more than N200 billion has been lost financially. This issue may likely get the attention of the national assembly this week.
Niger boat mishap
Last week, scores of bodies were recovered following a boat mishap involving about 200 traders that occurred between Baro and Akwanu communities in Agaie local government area of Niger state. This latest mishap is coming barely one month after a boat conveying over 300 passengers capsized at Gbajibo in Mokwa Local Government Area of same Niger state on October 1 leaving 42 persons dead. A motion calling on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to address and tackle this issue might be presented before the national assembly.
Bills Board
Following from the agenda of the national assembly last week, some bills will likley get attention this week, including: Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, 2024, Maize Export Bill, 2024, Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Tai Ogoni (Establishment) Bill, 2024. Also, the House of Representatives has consolidated the following bills: four (4) separate Artificial Intelligence (AI) bills, a bill to amend the Nigeria police Act – and may be presented this week for second reading.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
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