The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has dismissed reports suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio overruled his deputy, Jibrin Barau, regarding the controversial Tax Reform Bills.
Moro clarified that the Senate remains united in its approach to addressing issues related to the bills.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Moro, who chairs the special committee on the Tax Reform Bills, described the situation as a procedural adjustment rather than a conflict.
The controversy began on Thursday when Akpabio, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to advancing the Tax Reform Bills, stated that no aspect of the bills had been suspended or withdrawn.
He emphasized that the Senate would not bow to external pressures and remains focused on representing Nigerians’ interests.
His comments followed an announcement by Barau, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, that a committee led by Moro would meet with the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to address contentious issues in the bills.
Some interpreted Akpabio’s remarks as undermining Barau’s authority, sparking speculation about a rift.
Moro dismissed these interpretations, reiterating that the Senate is working collaboratively.
He said, “I don’t see it as an overruling as such. The deputy Senate President presided over the session; on the next day, the Senate President presided over the session. This idea of setting up a committee, the idea of interfacing with the executive on the bills before the House was muted on Thursday the previous week.
“So, the list was drawn and of course under normal circumstances adjustments are permissible and that is what was done. I think it doesn’t have any insinuation of one overruling the other, it’s just a mere adjustment of membership and procedures to adopt in the process.”
While speaking on the Bills on Thursday’s edition of the Sunrise Daily, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had raised fears that the Tax Reform Bills could systematically phase out the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Osodeke also lamented that the lecturer’s union is not being carried along in the consultations regarding the Tax Reform Bills which could affect TETFund which is a critical part of the university system in the country.
Reacting to that, Senator Moro said that ASUU will be involved in their consultations if it is necessary.
“If it is necessary, definitely ASUU will be involved but our mandate is to interface with the executive,” Senator Moro said.
He assured Nigerians that as their representatives, the Senators are open to all kinds of inputs on critical issues that affect the lives of the people.