An allegation of potential document tampering has rocked Nigeria’s House of Representatives, threatening to stall the implementation of the country’s recently signed tax reforms.
Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP-Sokoto) stunned the chamber on Wednesday by asserting that the officially published tax laws are not the statutes lawmakers passed.
Invoking a Point of Privilege, Dasuki declared a breach of his legislative rights, stating that after a meticulous three-day review, he found material differences between the gazetted copies of the laws and the official parliamentary records. The discrepancies, he claims, suggest the final public versions were altered after the National Assembly’s approval.
“I was here, I gave my vote and it was counted, and I am seeing something completely different,” Dasuki told the assembly, revealing he obtained the conflicting documents from the Ministry of Information.
He described the issue as a fundamental constitutional crisis, not a procedural error, demanding a full and transparent audit by the parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, the whole members should see what is in the gazetted copy and compare it with what they passed on the floor so that the necessary amendments can be made. This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws,” he insisted.
The controversy surrounds the four tax acts President Bola Tinubu signed into law on June 26, 2025, which was hailed for its potential to modernize Nigeria’s economy, boost revenue, and simplify administration. Key provisions, such as keeping VAT at 7.5% and zero-rating essentials, are now under a cloud of doubt as the authenticity of the published laws is questioned.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas acknowledged the gravity of the claim and promised action.
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