A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has alleged that the tax reform law passed by National Assembly is not the same as the version published in the official gazette.
Gatekeepers News reports that Dasuki, who represents Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency of Sokoto State, raised the issue as a matter of privilege during Wednesday’s plenary session of the lower chamber.
The legislature said the document made available to the public does not reflect the provisions approved by lawmakers.
According to him, the discrepancy became clear after he personally obtained copies of the gazetted law from the Ministry of Information and compared them with the version harmonised and passed by the House.
He said, “What was passed on the floor is not what is gazetted. Mr speaker, honourable colleagues, I was here, I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I am seeing something completely different.”
Dasuki called on the Speaker to examine the differences between the harmonised bill, the version passed by lawmakers, and the gazetted copy.
He added, “I am calling on Mr speaker to graciously look at what was harmonised, what is in the gazetted copy, and what was passed on this floor.”
The legislator warned that the situation amounted to a serious constitutional issue and urged the House to act swiftly.
He said, “This is a breach of the constitution and a breach of our laws, and it should not be taken lightly by this honourable house.”
Although no formal motion was moved, Dasuki requested that the version approved by National Assembly be presented before the committee of the whole for comparison with the gazetted copy.
In response, Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, acknowledged the complaint and assured members that the matter would be addressed.
Recall that both chambers of the National Assembly passed the tax reform bills in March and May, after which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed them into law in June.
