By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says Nigeria’s tax laws were not altered, dismissing claims that the newly-implemented tax laws were tampered with after passage by the National Assembly.
Akpabio stated this during plenary on Wednesday, January 28, while addressing the controversy over the legality of the tax laws.
This followed concerns raised by Abdulsamad Dakuku, a member of the House of Representatives, who alleged discrepancies between the tax reform bills passed by lawmakers and the copies later made available to the public.
The Senate President noted that any document circulating outside the officially-certified versions should be disregarded, as it does not represent the outcome of the National Assembly’s deliberations.
He noted that the versions gazetted and signed into law fully reflect legislative proceedings in both chambers.
Akpabio said: “I understand that there is another version that was circulating around, which was not in compliance with what was contained in our votes and proceedings. There was no adulteration whatsoever in the final laws.”
According to Akpabio, the four tax-related acts had completed the full legislative process, were duly signed by President Bola Tinubu, gazetted, and certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly to eliminate confusion.
He added that the documentation reflects resolutions reached during harmonisation between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“The four acts are ready and gazetted, and signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) to avoid confusion,” he said.
The Senate President also directed the Clerk of the Senate to distribute certified copies of the tax reform act to all senators to reinforce confidence in the process, warning that the documents must not be released through unofficial channels.
“So every senator is expected to go home with one today,” he said, noting that those absent would receive their copies directly.
Akpabio cautioned that the documents should only be issued by the clerk to prevent further speculation.
He said the final texts incorporated proceedings from both chambers, including the outcome of the harmonisation committee, before receiving presidential assent.
