Dare Babalola
The House of Representatives Minority Caucus is demanding that implementation of Nigeria’s new Tax Reform Laws be suspended, citing claims that the gazetted versions were altered post-National Assembly approval and presidential assent.
The demand follows growing uproar over claims by a lawmaker that the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly were altered in the gazetted versions.
The claim has sparked intense debate, both within and outside the National Assembly, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the law-making and gazetting process.
The House of Representatives has set up a probe committee to investigate if the tax laws were tampered with after passage, fraudulently gazetted, or wrongly circulated – all amid the ongoing controversy.
Minority Leader Rep. Kingsley Chinda says the situation is a serious constitutional issue that transcends politics, warning that altering laws passed by the legislature is an attack on democracy.
“The allegations strike at the heart of the independence and credibility of the National Assembly,” the caucus said, assuring Nigerians that it would stand with the House leadership to ensure a thorough investigation and the prosecution of anyone found culpable.
The Minority Caucus explained that under established legislative procedures, only laws transmitted by the Clerk to the National Assembly to the appropriate government agency can be lawfully gazetted, stressing that the National Assembly remains the sole custodian of the authentic versions of laws passed by the Federation.
Against this background, the lawmakers urged Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws in circulation that do not bear the signatures of the Clerk to the National Assembly and the President, insisting that such documents could not have originated from the legislature.
The caucus further warned that any attempt to foist fake or altered laws on Nigerians constitutes a direct assault on the constitutional role of the National Assembly and undermines public confidence in the tax reform agenda.
Consequently, the Minority Caucus called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation and the confirmation of the authentic texts to be enforced.
It also stressed that Nigerians and the business community are entitled to clear, certified copies of the laws they are expected to obey, noting that legal certainty is essential for compliance, investment and economic stability.
The caucus expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s democratic credentials and urged him to act in the national interest by responding promptly to the concerns raised.
The statement was jointly signed by Minority Whip, Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C., PhD; Deputy Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki; and Deputy Minority Whip, Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi.
