The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Philip Agbese, has rejected claims by Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South that the tax laws recently passed by the National Assembly were falsified.
Agbese described the claims as unfounded, misleading and capable of damaging public trust in the legislature. He said the allegations were not supported by facts and should not be allowed to create unnecessary tension in the country.
The lawmaker made this known in an interview with journalists on Sunday while reacting to comments made by Ndume during a recent television programme.
Ndume had alleged that there were discrepancies in the tax laws recently signed by President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the versions signed into law were different from those passed by the National Assembly. According to him, there were at least two different versions of the gazetted tax laws.
The senator also claimed that he had drawn the attention of the Senate leadership to the alleged differences but was ignored. He criticised the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for dismissing the claims instead of setting up an investigation to look into the matter.
However, Agbese said the allegations were not only incorrect but also unfair to the National Assembly, which he said followed due process in passing the tax laws.
According to him, it was wrong for anyone to suggest that lawmakers deliberately altered the provisions of the tax bills after they were passed.
“It is sheer mischief to suggest that the tax laws were falsified,” Agbese said.
He stressed that both the Senate and the House of Representatives are committed to transparency, accountability and strict legislative procedures.
Agbese explained that lawmaking in Nigeria follows a clear process, including debates, committee reviews, harmonisation between both chambers and final approval before bills are sent to the President for assent.
He said the idea that lawmakers would secretly change bills after passage was not only false but showed a lack of understanding of how the legislative process works.
The deputy spokesperson also revealed that the House of Representatives had already taken steps to address concerns raised about the tax laws by setting up a committee to examine the issues.
According to him, the move shows that the House is open to scrutiny and willing to correct genuine errors if any are found.
“There are legislative review mechanisms to address genuine errors or ambiguities where they exist,” he said.
“This is exactly why the House set up a committee to clarify the facts. Nigerians should not be misled into thinking that lawmakers are acting in bad faith.”
Agbese warned that making unverified claims in public could undermine confidence in democratic institutions and distract lawmakers from their work.
He urged politicians to avoid politicising sensitive national issues, especially at a time when the country is going through economic reforms.
Nigeria’s tax laws have been a major subject of public debate in recent months. The Federal Government has been pushing for reforms aimed at increasing revenue, reducing dependence on borrowing and improving public services.
President Tinubu has repeatedly said that tax reform is necessary to strengthen the economy and fund key sectors such as education, health care and infrastructure.
However, tax increases and new tax measures often attract criticism from citizens who are already struggling with rising living costs, inflation and unemployment.
Against this background, the passage of new tax laws by the National Assembly drew public attention, with many Nigerians closely watching how the laws were made and what they contained.
Agbese noted that raising alarm over alleged falsification without proof could worsen public anxiety and fuel distrust in government.
He said that if there were genuine concerns, the appropriate step would be to raise them through institutional channels rather than through the media.
The lawmaker also cautioned that speculative narratives could slow down efforts to reform Nigeria’s tax system in the interest of the people.
“Lawmaking must be built on facts and due process,” he said.
“Speculative narratives could distract legislators from their efforts at reforming Nigeria’s tax system in the overall public interest.”
The controversy has continued to generate debate within political circles and on social media, with supporters of both sides expressing different views.
Some Nigerians have called for full disclosure of the legislative documents to clear doubts, while others believe the matter has been exaggerated for political reasons.
They also note that after presidential assent, laws are gazetted to make them official and public.
According to them, any serious discrepancy would require clear evidence and formal investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Senate leadership had not announced any separate probe into the claims made by Ndume.
The House of Representatives committee set up to examine the tax laws is expected to submit its findings in due course.
For now, Agbese insists that there was no falsification and that the National Assembly acted within the law.
He urged Nigerians to remain calm and trust the legislative process while the issues are being reviewed.
The outcome of the committee’s work is expected to help clarify the situation and put the controversy to rest.
