9th Senate has been proactive, says spokesman
The Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru on Friday said that the 9th Senate has been proactive in discharging its responsibilities in the last one year.
Basiru in a statement to mark the one year anniversary of the 9th Senate in Abuja, said the upper Chamber helped to create a window for the federal government to realize at least N320billion by amending a relevant oil sector Bill.
He said that the money would help to boost the nations economy when realized.
The Osun Central Senator, said the lawmakers are poised to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), expeditious consideration when it is laid on the floor by the executive.
He added that the serving 104 Senators, are presently donating half of their monthly salaries towards efforts aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Basiru in the statement titled: “The 9th Senate and the one year after ” said: “Perturbed by dwindling national revenues largely due to vulnerabilities in international price of crude oil, it took steps towards improving revenues from other avenues notably Value Added Tax (VAT).
“Accordingly, it passed an Executive Bill which proposed an increase in VAT from 5% to 7.5% in record time by invoking its powers under Order 79(1) of the Senate Standing Rules. This was an extraordinary step to take.
“Another laudable and progressive intervention was the extensive work done on the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (Amendment) Act 2019, to repeal and replace Section 16 of the Act.
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