Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the house of representatives, has described the interim report released by the minority caucus ad hoc committee on alleged alterations in the tax reform laws as belated and overtaken by events.
Background
On December 17, Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the house of representatives, raised concerns over alleged discrepancies between the tax reform laws passed by the national assembly and the versions later gazetted and made available to the public.
The allegation sparked widespread public reaction, with calls in some quarters for the suspension of the implementation of the laws.
In response, the leadership of both chambers of the national assembly, on December 16, directed Kamoru Ogunlana, clerk of the national assembly, to liaise with relevant executive agencies to re-gazette the tax laws.
The affected legislations include the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
On January 3, the house of representatives released the gazetted copies of the laws for public examination.
However, on Friday, the minority caucus committee, chaired by Afam Ogene, an Anambra lawmaker, claimed it uncovered “illegal” alterations in the gazetted versions, noting that multiple versions of the laws were in circulation. Ogene said preliminary findings, based on comparisons between certified true copies (CTCs) from the house and the gazetted documents, suggested changes had been made.
‘There is now clarity’
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Agbese said the national assembly leadership had already addressed the matter before the minority caucus issued its interim report.
According to him, the speaker of the house, Tajudeen Abbas, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ensured the release of the authentic and certified versions of the four tax reform acts passed by the national assembly and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The concerns surrounding discrepancies in the tax laws have already been comprehensively resolved by the leadership of the house,” Agbese said.
“With the release of the certified true copies of the Acts, there is now clarity on what was passed by the national assembly and duly signed into law.”
He added that the speaker also directed an internal verification process to guarantee that only valid and duly enacted versions of the laws remain in circulation, describing the move as a demonstration of the house’s commitment to transparency, due process, and institutional integrity.
Agbese further noted that the coordinated actions of the leadership of both chambers underscored a resolve to protect the legislature’s constitutional responsibilities and prevent any erosion of its lawmaking authority.
While acknowledging the right of lawmakers to raise accountability concerns, the deputy spokesperson maintained that the steps already taken by the house leadership had effectively settled the issue.
He said the house acted “swiftly and responsibly,” stressing that the release of the certified acts had resolved the controversy and ensured that Nigerians rely only on the lawful versions of the tax reform laws.
