Deputy spokesperson of the house of representatives, Philip Agbese says the interim report by the minority caucus ad hoc committee on alleged alterations in the tax reform laws is ‘belated and overtaken by events’.
BACKGROUND
On 17 December, Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the lower legislative chamber, alleged that there were differences between the tax laws passed by the parliament and the gazetted copies available to the public.
The alleged alterations sparked public outrage, with some Nigerians calling for the suspension of the implementation of the laws.
On 16 December, the leadership of the senate and the house of representatives directed Kamoru Ogunlana, clerk of the national assembly, to work with relevant agencies in the executive arm of the government in a bid to re-gazette the tax laws.
The tax laws are 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.
On 3 January, the green chamber released the gazetted copies of the tax laws for public scrutiny.
On Friday, the minority caucus committee, chaired by Afam Ogene, an Anambra lawmaker, said it discovered ‘illegal’ alterations in the gazetted copies of the tax reform laws.
Ogene, chairman of the seven-member committee set up by the caucus to probe the alleged alterations, said a review of the acts showed that different versions were in circulation.
He added that preliminary findings, based on a comparison of the certified true copies (CTCs) released by the house and the gazetted copies, indicated that the laws had been altered.
‘There Is Now Clarity’
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Agbese said the leadership of the national assembly had already resolved the matter before the minority caucus released its interim report.
He said speaker of the house, Tajudeen Abbas working with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ensured the release of the authentic versions of the four Tax Reform Acts passed by the national assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
‘The concerns raised regarding discrepancies in the tax laws have already been comprehensively addressed by the house leadership’, Agbese said.
‘With the release of the certified true copies of the Acts, there is now clarity as to what was passed by the national assembly and signed into law’.
Agbese said the speaker also ordered an internal verification process to ensure that only authentic and duly passed versions of the laws remain in circulation.
He said the step demonstrated the house’s commitment to transparency, due process, and the protection of democratic institutions.
Agbese added that the joint actions of the leadership of both chambers showed a resolve to safeguard the legislature’s constitutional role and prevent erosion of its lawmaking authority.
While acknowledging the right of lawmakers to raise accountability concerns, Agbese said the measures taken by the house leadership had effectively settled the issue.
The deputy spokesperson said the house acted ‘swiftly and responsibly’, adding that the release of certified acts ‘resolved the issue and ensured Nigerians rely on lawful versions of the tax reforms’.
