National Assembly Orders Re-Gazetting of Tax Laws Over Alleged Alterations by Presidency

The National Assembly has ordered the re-gazetting of recently assented tax reform laws following allegations that the versions published in the Federal Government’s Official Gazette differ from those passed by lawmakers.

The directive, announced on Friday, follows claims by Abdusammad Dasuki, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, that the tax bills were altered after being passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Dasuki described the alleged changes as a breach of legislative privilege.

In a statement, House of Representatives spokesman Akin Alabi said the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, had directed the Clerk to re-gazette the Acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly approved by both chambers.

Lawmakers raised concerns after discovering controversial provisions in the gazetted laws that were not part of the harmonised bills. These included the removal of the requirement for court orders before asset seizures, expanded powers for law enforcement to arrest and detain tax suspects, and a clause mandating a 20 per cent prepayment before tax appeals can be heard.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen pledged a thorough investigation, while an ad hoc seven-member committee has been set up to review the legislative and administrative handling of the laws. The Senate President also ordered that certified copies of the bills transmitted to the President for assent be preserved for reference.

The Nigerian Bar Association and civil society groups have called for a suspension of actions under the disputed provisions pending the outcome of the review. The House of Representatives has insisted that the re-gazetting is an administrative step aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the legislative record, without affecting the powers of other arms of government.