The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has raised concerns over allegations that the recently enacted Tax Reform laws may have been altered after their passage by the National Assembly and assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the caucus said the matter warrants careful examination due to its implications for legislative integrity and public confidence in the law-making process.
According to the statement, the issue was brought to the attention of the House during a recent plenary session by a member of the House of Representatives.
The allegation claimed that the versions of the tax laws currently in circulation differ from those passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and signed into law by the President.
Following the allegation, the House constituted a high-powered committee to investigate claims that the laws were altered, improperly gazetted, and circulated to the public.
The Minority Caucus stated that it would cooperate fully with the investigation and support measures aimed at establishing the authenticity of the laws and identifying any procedural irregularities.
The caucus explained that under established legislative procedures, the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) is responsible for transmitting authenticated copies of passed laws to the appropriate federal agency for gazetting.
It noted that the National Assembly retains custody of the original and authentic versions of all laws enacted by the legislature.
In light of the allegations, the caucus advised members of the public to rely only on copies of the tax laws bearing the signatures of the CNA and the President, adding that any document lacking such authentication should be treated with caution.
The statement further noted that any confirmed alteration of duly enacted laws would raise constitutional concerns and undermine the legislative process.
Consequently, the caucus called on the Federal Government to consider suspending the implementation of the tax laws pending the outcome of the investigation, in order to ensure clarity and legal certainty for citizens and the business community.
It added that access to verified copies of the laws is essential for compliance and effective implementation.
The Minority Caucus expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation would clarify the situation and ensure accountability where necessary.