Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives, has drawn the attention of his colleagues to alleged alterations of the tax bills as passed in both chambers of the National Assembly.
Dasuki claimed that the gazetted copy of the new tax laws differed from the harmonized version passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
He said, “I’m here today because my privilege has been breached as a member of this all-important House. Mr. Speaker, honorable 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.
“Mister Speaker, honorable 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.
“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.
“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 urged the House to reconsider the version passed, stating, “I plead that all of the documents be brought before the Committee of the Whole so that we can make the necessary amendments.”
He described the development as a violation of the constitution.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and this should not be taken by this Honorable House,” the senator said.
Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, stated that parliamentarians would investigate the matter and resolve it in the best interests of the country.
