Tax ‘Alterations’: Presidency Silent As Reps Raise Probe Panel

The Presidency is yet to respond to the allegations of discrepancies between the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and gazetted by the government.

A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), had, on Wednesday raised a matter of privilege on the floor of the house, alleging discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions gazetted and made available to the public.

Rising under Order 6, Rule 2 of the House Rules on a Point of Privilege, Dasuki told the house that his legislative privilege had been breached, insisting that the content of the tax laws as gazetted did not reflect what the lawmakers debated, voted on and passed on the floor of the house.

When contacted yesterday for reactions, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, could not be reached on their mobile telephone lines. They did not reply to text and WhatsApp messages sent to them,

Earlier yesterday, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on Thursday, set up a seven-man ad hoc committee to investigate

The committee is to be chaired by Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, with Ahmed Idris Wase, Sada Soli, James Abiodun Faleke, Fred Agbedi, Babajimi Benson and Iduma Igariwey as members.

PDP, Shari’ah council demand probe

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a thorough investigation into alleged discrepancies in the gazetted version of Nigeria’s Tax Act, warning that the matter must not be swept under the carpet.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party described the alleged insertions and substitutions as a serious breach of legislative integrity, stressing that Nigerians deserve clarity on how unenacted provisions found their way into the official gazette.

The party also demanded that the commencement date of the Tax Act be shifted from January 1, 2026, by at least six months to allow for investigation, proper publication of the correct version and public enlightenment.

Also, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) called for an urgent and transparent investigation into alleged discrepancies in the tax laws.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, the SCSN warned that if the allegations are confirmed, the development would amount to a serious constitutional violation with far-reaching implications for democracy, governance, economic stability and public trust.

The council urged the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to ensure a thorough examination of the claims before the tax laws take effect on January 1, 2026. (Daily trust)