Reps set up panel to probe alleged tampering in gazetted tax laws

The House of Representatives has established a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate claims that tax laws passed by the National Assembly were altered before being assented to and gazetted, sparking fresh concerns over legislative integrity.

Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the committee on Thursday during plenary, following allegations that the versions of the tax bills publicly released differed from those debated and approved by lawmakers.

Business Hallmark had reported that the alleged alterations in the tax laws have continued to provoke strong reactions from Nigerians.

The panel will be chaired by Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, with former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase, Sada Soli, James Abiodun Faleke, Fred Agbedi, Babajimi Benson, and Iduma Igariwey as members.

The move comes after Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) raised a Point of Privilege on Wednesday, accusing officials of publishing tax laws that did not reflect the resolutions passed by the National Assembly.

Speaking under Order Six, Rule Two of the House Rules, Dasuki said his legislative privilege had been violated, noting that the gazetted laws differed from the versions approved by both chambers.

He said he spent three days reviewing the gazetted copies alongside the Votes and Proceedings of the House and the harmonised bills adopted by both chambers, uncovering what he described as “serious discrepancies.”

“I was here, I voted, and my vote was counted, yet the gazetted copy shows something completely different,” Dasuki said, adding that copies obtained from the Ministry of Information did not match what lawmakers passed.

Describing the matter as more than a routine procedural issue, Dasuki urged the Speaker to ensure all relevant documents – including the harmonised bills, Votes and Proceedings of both chambers, and the gazetted copies – are brought before the Committee of the Whole for full scrutiny by all members.

He warned that allowing altered versions of laws to be presented to the public would undermine the credibility of the legislature and violate constitutional provisions.

“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and it should not be taken lightly by this honourable House,” Dasuki said.

Speaker Abbas confirmed he had taken note of the Point of Privilege and assured lawmakers that appropriate action would be taken, culminating in the establishment of the investigative committee.