The National Assembly has ordered its Clerk to re-gazette Nigeria’s new tax laws and issue Certified True Copies of what was actually passed, a rare step that underscores deep concern over alleged alterations to the documents.
This follows a warning on the House floor by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, who revealed that versions of the Tax Acts circulating at the Ministry of Information differ from those approved by lawmakers. If true, the discrepancies strike at the heart of constitutional governance.
In response, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas set up an ad hoc committee, while National Assembly spokesperson Akin Rotimi announced broader institutional reviews involving key committees and the Assembly’s management.
The disputed legislation includes the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Joint Revenue Board Act, and the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, all central to federal revenue reform. Lawmakers now want a forensic review of what was passed, what was sent to the Presidency, and what ended up in the Official Gazette.
Leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas has directed that the Acts be re-gazetted strictly as approved by both chambers, a move aimed at restoring public trust and affirming that Parliament, not unseen hands, writes Nigeria’s laws.
The House insists the probe is institutional, not political, but Nigerians deserve answers. Any tampering with legislation, if confirmed, is not just a procedural lapse. It is an assault on due process and a threat to democratic order.
For now, citizens are urged to hold judgment and hold leaders accountable. Transparency must prevail, and the full truth must be made public.
Facebook Comments
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings