The House of Representatives has faulted the decision of its minority caucus to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged alterations to recently enacted tax laws, describing the move as procedurally flawed and lacking institutional authority.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the House spokesman, Mr Akin Rotimi, said the House had observed media reports that the minority caucus formed the ad-hoc committee on January 2, 2026, and had reportedly submitted an interim report.
While acknowledging the role of the minority caucus in a parliamentary democracy, Rotimi stressed that there is a clear distinction between political caucus activities and the formal legislative processes of the House.
“The House recognises the legitimate role of the minority caucus within parliamentary democracy and affirms its right to express dissenting opinions, engage in policy advocacy, and raise public concerns. However, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between political activities and the formal parliamentary processes of the House,” he said.
Rotimi explained that under the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (Eleventh Edition), the authority to constitute an ad-hoc committee resides solely with the House acting in plenary or with the Speaker exercising powers granted under the Standing Orders.
“No political caucus, whether majority or minority, possesses the procedural authority to establish a committee that carries the status of a parliamentary body,” he stated.
According to the spokesman, political caucuses serve as platforms for consultation and coordination among lawmakers but lack institutional standing, investigative authority, oversight jurisdiction, or the power to summon individuals or demand official documents.
He added that any committee set up outside the provisions of the Standing Orders has no legal or institutional recognition, and any report produced by such a body cannot be laid before the House or form part of the official legislative or oversight records of the National Assembly.
Rotimi described the minority caucus’ action as procedurally improper and inconsistent with parliamentary norms, warning that it could create public confusion, especially as the matter had already been addressed through established legislative processes.
He recalled that in December 2025, the House constituted a bipartisan ad-hoc committee following concerns raised by an opposition lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, over the existence of multiple documents claiming to be official gazettes of the tax laws.
The committee, chaired by Muktar Betara, was set up in line with the Standing Orders and included members from both the ruling and opposition parties. Rotimi said the committee remains in place and will present its report to the House upon completion of its assignment.
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He added that the National Assembly has since published the official Gazette of the National Assembly and issued Certified True Copies of the enacted tax laws, giving the legislation full legal effect.
According to him, the House has disowned any unofficial documents in circulation and reiterated that only the gazetted versions and certified copies issued by the legislature constitute authentic legislative instruments.
Rotimi reaffirmed the House’s commitment to transparency, accountability and effective oversight, stressing that such objectives must be pursued strictly in line with the Constitution, the Standing Orders and established parliamentary conventions.
“For the avoidance of doubt, only committees constituted by the House in plenary or by the Speaker have parliamentary authority,” he said, advising the public to treat any committee or report not authorised by the House or the Speaker as a political initiative rather than an official action of the House of Representatives.