The bills for the amendment of revenue administration law and establishment of revenue court have scaled through the second reading on the floor of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Titled "Kwara State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and "Kwara State Revenue Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the bills were read for the second time after the debate on the principles.

Motions for second reading were moved by the Leader of the House, Hon Hassan Oyeleke and seconded by Hon Ba'Aziki Suleiman of Banni Adena Constituency and Hajia Sikirat Anako of Odo-Okun Constituency respectively. Leading the debate, Oyeleke said the bills were initiated to address the lacuna in the existing laws.

He said if passed into laws, the bills would ensure quick dispensation of cases relating to revenue issue. The Leader of the House called on other members to support the passage of the bills because of the enormous advantages to the revenue coffers of the state.

In his contribution, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon Moshood Bakare said establishment of revenue court through the bills was a good initiative.

This, he said would go a long way in quickly addressing legal processes relating to tax evasion.

Also speaking, Hon Ahmed Ibn Muhammed of Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe Constituency and Hon Jimoh Akanni Abdulrahman of Share/Oke-ode Constituency described the bills as timely because the loopholes in the revenue generation would be blocked if the bills were passed into law.

In their contributions, the Chairman of House Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Public Service and Judiciary, Barrister Kamaldeen Fagbemi and Hon Taiwo Abdullahi Abdulrasheed of Owode/Onire Constituency, said the bills would address some of the challenges associated with tax payment and revenue generation.

The lawmakers however maintained that the bills were not meant for introduction of new tax regime but to enforce compliance with the laws, noting that aggrieved tax-payers could also seek redress through the revenue court and appellate court.

The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Simon Okedare to read the Revenue Administration Bill for second time and consequently referred it to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation and report of the 23rd of March, 2016.

He also mandated the Clerk to read Revenue Court Bill for second time and committed to the joint House Committee on Finance and Appropriation and Ethics, Privileges, Public Service and Judiciary to report in two weeks time.