The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday announced the establishment of a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged discrepancies between tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions that were later assented to and officially gazetted
The announcement came after a Point of Privilege raised by Sokoto State lawmaker Abdulsammad Dasuki, who claimed that the publicly released tax laws did not match what lawmakers had debated and approved.
The committee will be chaired by Muktar Aliyu Betara, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. Other members include former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase, Sada Soli, James Abiodun Faleke, Fred Agbedi, Babajimi Benson, and Iduma Igariwey.
The panel is tasked with reviewing the legislative process that led to the gazetting of the tax laws and determining whether the final documents differ from the versions passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Dasuki raised the matter on Wednesday under Order Six, Rule Two of the House Rules, stating that his legislative privilege had been violated. He said the content of the gazetted laws was materially different from what lawmakers voted on.
He explained that he spent three days comparing the gazetted copies with the Votes and Proceedings of the House and the harmonised versions approved by both chambers, identifying inconsistencies.
“I was here, I gave my vote and it was counted, and I am seeing something completely different,” Dasuki said, adding that copies obtained from the Ministry of Information did not match what had been approved by the House and Senate.
Dasuki emphasized that his intervention was meant to alert the House to what he described as a serious breach of legislative procedure and constitutional provisions, rather than to move a motion. He urged the Speaker to ensure that all relevant documents—including the harmonised versions, Votes and Proceedings, and gazetted copies—are presented before the Committee of the Whole for scrutiny.
He warned that circulating laws different from those passed by the National Assembly would compromise the legislature’s integrity.
“Mr Speaker, I will be pleading that all the documents should be brought before the Committee of the Whole. The whole members should see what is in the gazetted copy and see what they passed on the floor so that we can make the relevant amendment. This is the breach of the Constitution. This is the breach of our laws, and this should not be taken by this honourable House,” he said.
In response, Speaker Abbas said he had noted Dasuki’s concerns and assured members that the issue would be addressed. The formation of the ad-hoc committee is expected to clarify the matter and protect the integrity of the legislative process.
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