A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has called on lawmakers to urgently review the tax laws passed by the National Assembly following allegations that the version currently gazetted differs from what was approved by both chambers.
Dasuki made the call while speaking under matters of privilege at Wednesday’s plenary session, where he urged the House to re-examine the harmonised version of the tax bills alongside the gazetted copy to determine the source of the discrepancies.
He told his colleagues that a careful review of legislative records showed that the documents in circulation did not reflect the decisions taken on the floor of the House and the Senate.
He said, “I’m here today because my privilege has been breached as a member of this all-important House. Mr Speaker, Honorable colleagues, we passed the tax laws (bills) on this floor. I took my time in the last three days to look at the gazetted copy.
“I also looked at the votes and proceedings of the House of Representatives, and also went an extra mile to look at the votes and proceedings of the Senate, which were harmonized.
“Mister Speaker, Honourable colleagues, what was passed on this floor is not what is gazetted.”
“I’m coming under privilege, because I was here. I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I’m seeing something completely different.
“On that note and on this privilege, I call on Mr Speaker to graciously look at what was harmonised and what is in the gazetted copy- what was passed in the House and the Senate.”
“You will find out that what is before Nigerians, which is being sold to Nigerians at the Ministry of Information, is not what was passed.”
Dasuki specifically asked that lawmakers revisit the approved documents collectively to ensure that any inconsistencies are corrected.
“I plead that all the documents should be brought before the Committee of the Whole so that we can make the relevant amendments.”
He warned that failure to review and address the situation would amount to a constitutional breach.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and this should not be taken by this Honorable House,” he added.
Responding, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, assured members that the leadership would take steps to review the matter.
Abbas said the House would look into the issue and address it in the interest of the nation.
