The national assembly has rejected bills seeking to create special seats for women in the federal legislative arm of government and moving Value Added Tax (VAT) to the exclusive legislative list.

While the bill proposing the inclusion of VAT on the exclusive list is titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; and for Related Matters”, the Bill on Special seats for women is titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters”.

At the House of Representatives, 209 members voted against moving VAT while 208 members voted against the provision of special seats for women.

At the senate, 41 senators voted in favour of the proposed inclusion of VAT on the exclusive list, while 44 voted against it, failing to meet the required two-third (73) membership.

30 senators voted in favour of the bill seeking to create special seats for women in the national assembly, while 58 voted against it.