The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Abuja, rejected claims by Senator Ali Ndume that Nigeria’s newly passed tax laws were altered after approval, saying the allegation was false and misleading. He explained that the laws were passed through proper legislative steps and that no section was secretly changed during the process.
Agbese said the National Assembly followed due process from deliberation to passage and transmission of the tax laws, adding that suggestions of falsification could create tension and weaken public trust in the legislature. He stated that it was incorrect to accuse lawmakers of hiding or changing provisions, noting that transparency and accountability guided the work of both chambers.
He also said the House of Representatives had already responded to the concerns by setting up a committee to review the issues raised about the tax laws. According to him, the decision to investigate shows that there was no attempt to cover up any wrongdoing and that claims of legislative fraud had no basis.
The lawmaker’s response followed earlier comments by Ndume, who accused the leadership of the National Assembly of ignoring alleged differences between the tax law passed by lawmakers and the version signed by President Bola Tinubu. Ndume had claimed that more than one version of the law existed and said the matter required investigation.
Agbese warned against turning the issue into a political debate, explaining that the legislature has clear procedures for correcting genuine errors where they occur. He said Nigerians should rely on facts rather than speculation and allow the review committee to complete its work.
The controversy began late last year when some lawmakers raised concerns about possible differences in versions of the tax reform bills during the final stages of passage. While the leadership of the National Assembly has maintained that the process was properly handled, the House committee is expected to review the matter and clear doubts surrounding the authenticity of the tax laws.
CLICK THE LINK TO READ FULL LIST
- Advertisement -
Comments are closed.