Allegations by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki, that Nigeria’s newly passed tax laws were altered after approval by the National Assembly have sparked public outrage and renewed debate about the law-making process.
Dasuki made the claims on Wednesday during a plenary session of the House, a moment that was later shared widely on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In the viral video, the lawmaker alleged that the version of the tax laws passed by lawmakers was different from the version later gazetted and made available to the public.
The new tax laws, which were signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June, are expected to come into effect on January 1, 2025.
Addressing the House, Dasuki said the differences he observed were not minor or clerical errors. He argued that the changes were serious and amounted to a breach of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Mister Speaker, honourable colleagues, what was passed on this floor is not what is gazetted,” Dasuki said. “I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I’m seeing something completely different.”
He warned that such actions, if true, undermine the authority of the National Assembly and violate the law-making process laid down by the Constitution.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and this should not be taken lightly by this Honourable House,” he added.
His comments immediately drew attention from fellow lawmakers and the public, given the importance of tax laws to Nigeria’s economy and governance.
In response to the allegations, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, assured members that the matter would be investigated.
He told lawmakers that the leadership of the House would look into the claims to determine whether there were any discrepancies between what was passed by the National Assembly and what was eventually gazetted.
The Speaker did not give a timeline for the review but promised that the House would treat the issue seriously in order to protect its integrity.
The allegations quickly drew reactions from Nigerians across social media and other platforms. Many expressed concern over what they described as a threat to democracy and the rule of law.
Some commentators argued that if the claims are confirmed, it could amount to an impeachable offence for those involved in altering the law.
Others called for an independent investigation to ensure transparency and restore public trust in the legislative process.
Civil society groups and legal analysts also weighed in, stressing that laws passed by the National Assembly must not be changed outside the formal legislative process.
According to constitutional experts, once a bill is passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and signed by the president, it must be gazetted exactly as approved. Any changes made afterward, without returning to the legislature, would be unlawful.
The new tax laws were introduced as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s tax system and increase revenue.
Nigeria has long struggled with low tax collection compared to its population and economic size. Government officials have argued that tax reforms are necessary to fund infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other public services.
The reforms were debated extensively in the National Assembly, with some lawmakers raising concerns about their impact on businesses and low-income earners.
After several months of deliberation, the bills were passed and later signed into law by President Tinubu in June.
The laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025, giving government agencies, businesses, and taxpayers time to prepare for the changes.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as Nigerians are already grappling with economic challenges, including high inflation, rising fuel prices, and the cost of living.
Many citizens are wary of new taxes and are closely watching how the government implements the reforms.
If the allegations of alteration are proven true, it could deepen public mistrust and raise questions about transparency in governance.
The House of Representatives is now expected to review the matter and compare the version of the tax laws passed by lawmakers with the gazetted version.
If discrepancies are found, the House may recommend corrective steps, which could include re-gazetting the correct version, conducting hearings, or taking disciplinary action against those responsible.
For now, government officials have not issued a formal response beyond the Speaker’s assurance that the issue will be investigated.
As the January 2025 implementation date approaches, many Nigerians are calling for clarity to ensure that only laws properly passed by the National Assembly are enforced.
