Tax Reform Bills: I Never Rubbished Senator Musa — Akpabio

Akpabio

By JAMES ETIDO

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed social media reports which falsely suggest that Senator Sani Musa was “rubbished” during a recent Senate plenary for allegedly failing to define the word “harmonise.”

“This is clearly a well-crafted tar brush by these merchants to attract traffic to their blogs and media platforms with the sole aim of advancing their pecuniary voyage and economic gains,” Hon Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Senate President, said in a statement issued Friday evening, May 30, 2025.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state without equivocation that what transpired on the floor was normal parliamentary procedure – in the course of asking for explanation not for himself but for all the senators of the word harmonization as inserted in the Conference Report on the Tax Reform Bills, Senator Sani Musa was interrupted by a Point of Order from Senator Abdul Ningi. And by our Standing Orders and Rules, once a Point of Order is raised, the Presiding officer must oblige the senator for the issue to be addressed. Senator Ninigi’s Point of Order was also on the same word ‘harmonise’.

“It must be noted that Senator Musa was neither embarrassed nor unable to respond to any question in this particular instance. The Senate President only granted procedural attention to Senator Ningi’s Point of Order. Consequently, the session continued without any breach of decorum. Hence, there was never a time Distinguished Senator Sani Musa was found wanting or rubbished,” Hon Eyiboh clarified in the statement.

He further said: “It is on record that Senator Musa is one of the most respected senators and one of the closest to the Senate President. He has been instrumental in leading key legislative efforts, both as Chairman Joint Committee on Finance, and particularly as Chairman of the Conference Committee that successfully coordinated and worked through all legislative processes and harmonised the ingenious four Tax Reform Bills—a legislative milestone widely commended by both chambers and stakeholders. Instead of attempting to tar- brush the image of the Senate, it should be commended for sifting through the voluminous bills and sitting for long hours most of the time to ensure a seamless passage. All these efforts cannot be rubbished by sensational reports over a mere explanation regarding the word ‘harmonise’.