Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has openly disagreed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the recently enacted tax regime, describing the legislation as deeply problematic.
The disagreement follows comments made by Akpabio during plenary on Wednesday, the 28th of January, 2026, where he dismissed public concerns, insisting that the new tax law had not been altered or compromised in any way.
However, speaking later the same day during an interview on Arise Television, Ndume countered the Senate President’s position, arguing that inconsistencies exist in the official records of the law.
According to the lawmaker, multiple versions of the Gazette are in circulation, a discrepancy he said he personally discovered and raised with the leadership of the National Assembly.
“We called the leadership to let them know that what we passed is not what the president signed. I don’t know why Sen. Akpabio is saying there are no discrepancies when he should set up a committee to find out.
“You will agree with me that even the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on tax reform, Taiwo Oyedele, admitted that they are differentials, two versions, or at least two versions of the tax law, and that if something has to be done, it has to be the National Assembly.
“My problem is not whether there are discrepancies or not. I’m worried about doing things behind closed doors. This is government of the people, for the people and by the people. And for God’s sake, why would you hide anything, even if it is personal?
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“I’m surprised that the Senate President said there’s no adulteration. He’s not supposed to do that. He’s supposed to say, okay, we’ll find out. Set up a committee, because the House of Representatives has done that too, to find out.
“I will talk to him on that. This is not something that they can just bury. You know why? You cannot build on nothing, or you cannot build on disputed grounds.
“What if somebody now goes to court? You think the court will not listen to them? The way they are going about it up initial is full of contradiction and controversy,” Ndume said.
Ndume stressed that transparency and legislative due process must not be compromised, warning that unresolved discrepancies could expose the law to legal challenges and undermine public confidence.