House Minority Wants Suspension Of Tax Reforms Over Alleged Alterations

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called for the suspension of recently enacted tax reform laws following allegations that the legislation was altered after being passed by parliament and signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the Minority Caucus of the House said it was “deeply disappointed” by what it described as a growing controversy surrounding the authenticity of the tax laws currently in circulation.

The caucus, led by Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, says the concern stems from allegations raised by a member of the House during a recent plenary session, claiming that the tax reform bills approved by both chambers of the National Assembly were fraudulently altered before being gazetted and released to the public.

Following the allegation, the House inaugurated a high-powered committee to investigate whether the versions of the laws in circulation differ from those duly passed by lawmakers and signed by the president.

The Minority caucus says it will work with the entire House to ensure that the investigation uncovers the truth and that anyone found culpable is held accountable.

“The National Assembly remains the custodian of the authentic copies of all laws passed,” explaining that the legislative process requires the Clerk to the National Assembly to transmit approved bills for official gazetting. The statement says

The caucus warns Nigerians to disregard any tax laws circulating without the signatures of both the Clerk to the National Assembly and the president, saying such documents could not be regarded as valid.

According to the statement, any attempt to circulate altered or fake laws amounts to an attack on the independence of the legislature and a threat to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

The lawmakers urged the federal government to immediately suspend the implementation of the tax reforms until the investigation is concluded and legal clarity restored.

They also said Nigerians and the business community are entitled to accurate and authentic copies of laws they are expected to comply with, stressing that uncertainty over tax policy could have serious economic consequences.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji