Lawmaker Alleges Discrepancies in Gazetted Tax Laws, Calls for Urgent Review

 

In a dramatic disclosure on the floor of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) has raised concerns over discrepancies between the tax laws recently gazetted for public circulation and the versions originally debated and approved by the National Assembly.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, Dasuki invoked a Point of Privilege, asserting that his rights as a legislator had been compromised. He explained that after a thorough three-day review of the official documents, he discovered significant inconsistencies between the gazetted laws and the versions passed by both the House and the Senate.

“I was present, I cast my vote, and it was counted. Yet the version now circulating is completely different,” Dasuki told his colleagues. He disclosed that copies of the gazetted laws obtained from the Ministry of Information did not match the approved legislative texts. He emphasized that his intention was not to move a motion but to alert the House to what he described as a serious breach of both legislative protocol and the Constitution.

Dasuki urged Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to direct that all relevant documents—including the harmonized versions of the bills, the Votes and Proceedings of both chambers, and the copies currently gazetted—be presented to the Committee of the Whole for detailed examination by all members.

He warned that circulating laws that differ from those officially passed by the National Assembly could severely undermine the credibility of the legislature and constitute a violation of constitutional provisions.

“Mr. Speaker, I am appealing that every document be laid before the Committee of the Whole so that all members can compare the gazetted copies with what was actually passed. This is not just a procedural oversight; it is a breach of the Constitution and of our legislative responsibilities,” he stated.

Speaker Tajudeen acknowledged the concern raised by Dasuki, assuring the House that the matter had been noted and that appropriate action would be taken to investigate the discrepancies.