On Wednesday, the Senate addressed two major national concerns – Nigeria’s ongoing aviation disruptions and the controversies surrounding the proposed tax reform bills.
During plenary, the Senate directed its Committee on Aviation to summon key figures, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, airline operators, and other stakeholders.
This followed a motion by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (APC, Oyo), who raised concerns about the socio-economic effects of frequent flight delays and cancellations.
The committee was tasked with investigating the causes of these disruptions and finding solutions to improve air travel reliability and public confidence.
Meanwhile, the Senate also addressed the divisive tax reform bills introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin announced a suspension of further action on the bills by the Committee on Finance, pending a meeting with Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi on Thursday, December 5.
To resolve the disagreements on key provisions of the bills, a special committee led by Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro was formed.
The committee, which includes Senators Tahir Monguno, Aliero Adamu, and Kalu Orji, aims to reconcile differences and ensure the bills align with national priorities while addressing stakeholder concerns.
Barau highlighted the Senate’s commitment to resolving these critical issues, stating, “We must put politics and regionalism aside to resolve disagreements in the tax bills and ensure unity in tackling the nation’s challenges, including insecurity and economic concerns.”
