Members
of the House of Representatives were divided on Thursday over a motion
seeking to suspend the Federal Government’s new tariff regime on
imported used and new vehicles.
According to the government, the new
regime is to create the enabling environment for the automotive industry
to grow in the country.
Mr. Nathaniel Oriade, who moved a motion
on the issue, told the House that a tariff of 70 per cent on new cars
implied higher prices for the affected categories of vehicles and their
components.
“Nigerians are already facing hardship and this new tariff can only worsen their situation,” he added.
The lawmaker called on the Ministry of
Finance to “suspend the implementation of the programme up until such a
time the assembly plants and equipment manufacturers would have started
the production of Nigeria-made vehicles.”
But some members faulted the motion on
the grounds that the Customs/Excise Tariff Act empowered the President
to adjust tariff whenever necessary.
For example, Mr. Ibrahim El-Sudi observed
that the only way to stop the policy was to come by an amendment bill
and not through a motion.
“The President has powers to alter a tariff. It is an extant law, which cannot be changed by a motion,” he added.
There were members who also insisted that
tariff was included in the Exclusive Legislative List and could not be
changed by “executive fiat” unless by a law passed by the National
Assembly.
In a bid to douse tension, the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, deferred further debate on the motion.
He asked the Joint Committee on
Rules/Business, Justice and Judiciary, to study the opposing views on
the motion and advise the House on what to do.
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