A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has raised alarm over alleged alterations to tax bills passed by the National Assembly, claiming that the gazetted version currently in circulation differs from what was approved by both chambers.
Speaking under the matter of privilege during plenary on Wednesday, December 17, Dasuki said his rights as a legislator had been violated, as the laws signed and published do not reflect the exact content passed by the National Assembly.
“I’m here today because my privilege has been breached as a member of this all-important House,” Dasuki said.
“Mr Speaker, Honourable colleagues, we passed the tax laws (bills) on this floor. I took my time in the last three days to look at the gazetted copy.
“I also looked at the votes and proceedings of the House of Representatives, and also went an extra mile to look at the votes and proceedings of the Senate, which were harmonized,” he stated.
The lawmaker alleged that significant changes were observed in the document made public.
“Mister Speaker, Honourable colleagues, what was passed on this floor is not what is gazetted. I’m coming under privilege because I was here. I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I’m seeing something completely different,” he said.
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Dasuki urged Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to verify the discrepancies between the harmonised version approved by lawmakers and the gazetted copy now being circulated to the public.
“On that note and on this privilege, I call on Mr Speaker to graciously look at what was harmonized and what is in the gazetted copy—what was passed in the House and the Senate,” he said.
“You will find out that what is before Nigerians, which is being sold to Nigerians at the Ministry of Information, is not what was passed.”
He further appealed to the House to revisit the approved bills and correct whatever errors or alterations may have occurred.
“I plead that all the documents should be brought before the Committee of the Whole so that we can make the relevant amendments,” he added.
Dasuki described the situation as a constitutional violation.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and this should not be taken by this Honourable House,” he said.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, assured that the issue would be carefully examined and addressed appropriately in the national interest.