Reps Raise Alarm Over Alleged Manipulation Of Tax Laws.

A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has raised concerns over alleged modifications to the tax bills passed by the National Assembly.

Raising the issue under a matter of privilege during Wednesday’s plenary session, Dasuki claimed that the officially gazetted version of the tax laws does not align with the harmonised documents approved by both the Senate and the House.

He explained that after carefully examining the gazetted copy alongside the votes and proceedings of the two chambers, he noticed noticeable differences in several clauses.

“I am compelled to speak today because my privilege as a lawmaker has been violated. We debated and passed the tax bills in this House, but what I have seen in the gazetted copy over the past few days is different,” he said.

According to him, a detailed comparison showed that the published version does not reflect what lawmakers actually voted for.

“What we passed on this floor is not what has been gazetted. I participated in the vote, it was recorded, yet what is circulating is entirely different,” Dasuki stated.

He called on the Speaker to thoroughly review the harmonised documents against the gazetted copy, insisting that Nigerians are currently being presented with laws that were never approved by parliament.

“The version being presented to Nigerians and circulated by the Ministry of Information is not what was passed by the House and the Senate,” he added.

Dasuki urged that all relevant documents be brought before the Committee of the Whole for proper scrutiny and necessary corrections, describing the situation as a serious constitutional breach.

“This is a clear violation of the Constitution and our laws, and it must not be taken lightly by this House,” he said.

In response, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas assured lawmakers that the issue would be investigated and appropriately addressed in the interest of the country.