The National Assembly has directed its Clerk to re-gazette the nation’s tax laws and issue Certified True Copies of the versions passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, following allegations of alterations to the laws.
The decision was disclosed in a statement released on Friday
in Abuja by the House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi.
Recall that two weeks ago, a lawmaker from Sokoto State,
Abdussamad Dasuki, raised the alarm during plenary that the tax reform Acts
passed by the parliament differed materially from copies in circulation at the
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Dasuki warned that the alleged alterations posed serious
legal and constitutional risks, noting that they were not backed by any
constitutional framework and could threaten Nigeria’s democratic order.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas,
constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Muktar Betara (APC,
Borno) to investigate the allegations and report back to the House for further
legislative action.
According to Rotimi, the leadership of the National Assembly
has taken decisive steps to address the matter in order to safeguard public
interest.
The statement read in part, “Recent public commentary has
focused on the legislative process relating to the passage, presidential
assent, and publication in the Official Gazette of the Federal Government of
the following Acts: the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration
Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and
the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
“The commentary has raised issues concerning the
harmonisation of bills passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives,
the documentation transmitted for Presidential assent, and the versions of the
Acts subsequently published in the Official Gazette.
“The House of Representatives wishes to assure the public
that these matters are being addressed strictly within the constitutional and
statutory remit of the National Assembly.”
Rotimi noted that the House had already taken institutional
action to address the concerns raised.
“Only last week, the House constituted a seven-man Ad-hoc
committee on the matter after an Honourable Member raised it under a Point of
Order (Privileges). The Ad-hoc Committee, alongside other relevant Committees
of the National Assembly, working in collaboration with the Management of the
National Assembly, is undertaking an institutional review to establish the
sequence of events and to identify any factors that may have contributed to the
circumstances surrounding the legislative and administrative handling of the
Acts,” he added.
According to the statement, the review includes, “A careful
examination of any lapses, irregularities, or external interferences, should
any be established. The review is being conducted in full conformity with the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Acts Authentication Act,
Cap. A4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the Standing Orders of both
Chambers, and established parliamentary practice.
“As part of the process, the leadership of the National
Assembly has approved administrative steps to clarify the official legislative
record.
“In the course of this review, and in the interest of
clarity, accuracy, and the integrity of the legislative record, the leadership
of the National Assembly, under the President of the Senate, Distinguished
Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Tajudeen Abbas has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette
the Acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by both
Chambers of the National Assembly.
“This administrative step is intended solely to authenticate
and accurately reflect the legislative decisions of the National Assembly.”
Rotimi added that the process was being carried out in line
with established legislative procedures.
“This review is strictly confined to institutional processes
and procedures. It does not constitute, imply, or concede any defect in the
exercise of legislative authority by the House of Representatives or the
Senate.
“It is undertaken without prejudice to the powers,
functions, or actions of any other arm or agency of government, and without
prejudice to any rights, obligations, or legal processes arising under the
Constitution or any other applicable law,” he said.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House,
under Speaker Abbas, to promptly address any identified gaps in parliamentary
procedures.
“The House of Representatives, under the leadership of the
Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, remains firmly committed to the principles of
constitutionalism, separation of powers, due process, and the supremacy of the
rule of law.
“Where procedural or administrative refinements are
identified, appropriate corrective measures will be taken in accordance with
the law and established parliamentary conventions,” the statement further read.
It also urged Nigerians to refrain from speculation while
the review is ongoing.
“Members of the public are respectfully urged to allow the
National Assembly’s institutional processes to proceed without speculation or
conjecture.
“The leadership of the House of Representatives remains
committed to transparency, accountability, and the faithful discharge of its
constitutional responsibility as custodian of the legislative authority of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it added.
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