1.0 Preamble
The 2-day retreat for the leadership of the10th Senate was
organized against the recognition that the National Assembly
plays a crucial role in shaping fiscal policies through its
constitutional mandate for debating, approving, and overseeing
fiscal policies. One of the primary responsibilities ofthe
legislature is to consider and approve the government’s planned
spending, finance bills, and borrowing decisions, amongst
others. The retreat also brought together the Senators of the
10th National Assembly, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, resource persons, members of the public
financial management agencies and committees of the executive
arm of government, as well as the National Assembly
bureaucracy. The retreat was particularly necessary in light of
the priority given by President BolaAhmed Tinubu, GCFR, to
prioritizing public financial management reforms to revitalize the
Nigerian economy.
Facilitated by the National Institute for Legislative and
Democratic Studies (NILDS), the 2-day retreat involved a grand
opening ceremony and robust technical sessions. The opening
ceremony was attended by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, GCFR, represented by the Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who
declared the ceremony open.
2.0 Presentations
Presentations taken were:
•Economic Development and Growth in Nigeria: Context,
Challenges, and Prospect, presented by Mr. Wale Edun,
Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the
Economy; and Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON, Minister
of Budget and Economic Planning.
•Understanding Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms: An Overview
of the Mandate, Work, and Recommendations of the
Presidential Committee, presented by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele,
Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax
Reforms.
•Tax Laws in Nigeria: Adequate or Inadequate, presented by
Prof. Abiola Sanni, SAN, University of Lagos.
•The 8-Point Agenda of the President and the Imperative of
Legislative Intervention, presented by Rt. Hon. Femi
Gbajabiamila, CFR, Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria,
Former Speaker, House of Representatives (2019–2023)
•Integrating the ‘Agenda for Renewed Hope’/8-Point Agenda
into the Legislative Programmes of the 10th Senate,
presented by Sen. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, CON, Senate
Leader.
•Electoral Reform and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria:
Review of the 2022 Electoral Act and Areas for Further
Legislative Action, presented by Prof. Attahiru Jega, OFR,
Former INEC Chairman.
•Security Sector Reform in Nigeria: Strengthening Legislative
Engagement and Oversight, presented by Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari, CFR, Former Chief of Staff to the Immediate Past
President.
3.0 Observations
Arising from the speeches, paper presentations, technical
sessions, and interactive sessions, the general observation is
that fiscal policy and tax revenue mobilization would be inclusive
if conducted in an environment where citizens’ trust leaders,
institutions are strengthened, and elections are transparent. The
situation where the laws upon which the nation’s fiscal policy and
tax revenue collection are based are outdated and ambiguous
offeropportunities for new legislative engagement/review. The
body that supervises elections must be seen to be independent
in the appointment of itschairman, while the electoral laws
should be looked into by the legislature. Good governance that
ensures social security, employment, poverty reduction, and
robust oversight, are sine qua nonfor the reduction in crime,
terrorism and banditry.
4.0 Recommendations
1.The situation where many agencies of government are
involved in collecting taxes and new laws continue to make
it the responsibility of theseagencies to collect taxes should
be halted,through a legislative resolution.
2.Bills on taxes should be presentedas Executive Bills and not
as private member Bills.
3.There is a need to review the tax waiver policy to ensure it
is aligned with the revenue mobilization drive of the
government by making the waiver process more
transparent and accountable.
To address exchange rate management issues, challenges
of inflation, address poverty, and create jobs, there is a
need to consider and approve the Emergency Economic
Intervention Bill from the Executive as a proposed
legislation from the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy
and Tax Reforms.
5.Establish clear and transparent guidelines for revenue
retention. The government should establish clear and
transparent guidelines for the amount of revenue that
revenue-generating institutions are allowed to retain. These
guidelines should be based on objective criteria, such as the
institution’s verified operating costs and investment needs
by the relevant authorities and committees of the National
Assembly.
6.Need to enhance public spending efficiency, by tackling
corruption in Government spending in order to provide
commensurate fiscal exchange to citizens and boost tax
morale.
7.Need for effective managementof resources by adopting
technology in expenditure management, driving adherence
to fiscal rulesand benchmarks, establishing a national fiscal
risk framework for revenue, debt and expenditure.
8.Nigerian Government should consolidate revenue collection
into a single agency like the FIRS. This would simplify the
tax system, reduce duplication of effortsand make it easier
for taxpayers to comply with the law.
9.Work with the Executive to review the National
Development Plan to integrate the 8-point Agenda of the
President and consider legislating aspects of the Agenda for
holistic implementation.
10.There is a need to consider relevant constitutional
amendments to pave the way for a 5-yeardevelopment
planto cater for projects and ensure continuity while
limiting abandoned projects.
11.Enforce consequences for violations of any provisions
of the law regarding monetary and fiscal matters. This will
require amendments to the relevant laws to ensure
effective oversight and enforcement of the consequences,
as the case may be.
12.Need for legislation that clearly defines the taxing
rights of the three levels of government.
13.Need for legislative intervention to promote the
optimization of revenue from non-oilsources, especially in
the solid mineral sector.
14.Enactment of an Emergency Economic Intervention
Bill. This will address critical socio-economicissues
concerning foreign exchange management, tackling
inflation, stimulating economic growth, and creating more
jobs.
There is a need for the National Assembly to invite the
critical stakeholders in the mining industry to understand
the kind of legislation required to make the sector thrive.
16.INEC should be unbundled to improve its efficiency
and effectiveness in the preparation and conduct of
elections.
17.Relating to the use of technology in elections, remove
the ambiguity evident in Section 64 of the EA22. Also, make
electronic transmission of results mandatory from the next
general elections in 2027, including the uploading of polling
unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels
of result collation.
18.Introduce diaspora voting, at least for presidential
elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on
essential service abroad, such as military, paramilitary, and
other security personnel abroad, Embassy staff, and other
citizens.
19.Relating to political parties;stipulate sanctions for
failure to submit the register of party members not later
than 30 days before the date of party primaries,
congresses, or conventions in relation to Section 77(3)
EA22, which the political parties have observed in the
breach in the2023 elections without penalty.
Develop and enact a comprehensive national security
strategy that outlines the nation’s security objectives,
threats, and policy priorities. Such a strategy can serve as
a guiding framework for legislative action in thesecurity
sector.
21.Address the root causes of terrorism/banditry, which is
often driven by poverty, inequality, and a lack of
opportunity.
22.Promote community policing and engagement to
identify and prevent terrorist attacks. The government
should also work with civil society organizations and local/
traditionalcommunities to identify and address security
concerns.
23.Establish independent oversight mechanisms for the
security sector. These mechanisms can help to investigate
allegations of abuse and corruption and to ensure that
security forces are accountable to the law.
24.Legislative engagement and oversight in Nigeria’s
security sector can be significantly bolstered through
comprehensive legislative reforms. These reforms are
essential for ensuring that the legislative branch is equipped
with the necessary tools and mechanisms to fulfill its critical
role in security sector reform.
25.The periodic engagement of the National Assembly
with the security chiefs for adequate briefing.
There is a need for the Senate President and the
Speaker, House of Representatives to be part of the weekly
security briefing that goes to the President.
27.The Senate should develop its Legislative Agendathat
incorporates the outcome of this retreat.
28.Review the Stamp Duty Act of 1939 and other obsolete
and anachronistic laws in conformitywith present realities.
