The minority caucus in the House of Representatives backs decision to investigate the alleged discrepancies in the new tax laws, urges federal government to suspend implementation
The minority caucus of the House of Representatives has urged the federal government to suspend the implementation of the newly enacted tax laws pending the conclusion of investigations and the establishment of clarity and certainty on the versions to be enforced.
Parliament Reports had earlier reported that the House was probing alleged discrepancies between the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions subsequently gazetted.
Also recall that the Federal Government had set January 1, to commence the implementation of task laws.
In a statement issued on Monday, the opposition lawmakers expressed full support for the House’s decision to investigate the matter, stressing the need to uncover the circumstances surrounding the alleged irregularities and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable in the interest of justice.
The statement was jointly signed by the Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda; Minority Whip, Rep. Ali Isa J.C; Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Madaki; and Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. George Ozodinobi.
While noting that the tax reform Acts were duly passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu, the caucus said it was deeply concerned by the controversy trailing the laws.
“Ordinarily, this controversy would have been dismissed as needless, but the gravity of the allegations is of great concern to all Nigerians, particularly as it borders on claims of unlawful alterations to laws passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and subsequently signed by the President,” the lawmakers said.
They noted that the issue was formally raised during a recent plenary session of the House, leading to the inauguration of a high-powered committee to investigate claims that the tax laws were fraudulently altered before being gazetted and circulated to the public.
The caucus emphasised that the National Assembly remains the custodian of authentic copies of laws passed by the legislature, explaining that the gazetting process begins with the Clerk to the National Assembly transmitting the duly passed laws to the appropriate federal agency.
“As such, the National Assembly will always ensure that the truth prevails in moments of controversy such as this,” the statement added.
The lawmakers called on Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws in circulation that do not bear the signatures of the Clerk to the National Assembly and President Tinubu, stressing that such versions did not emanate from the legislature and do not reflect what was actually passed and signed into law.
According to the caucus, any attempt to impose fake laws on Nigerians amounts to an attack on the constitutional role and independence of the National Assembly.
“Consequently, we call on the government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded and there is clarity and certainty on the law to be implemented,” they said, adding that Nigerians and the business community are entitled to access the authentic copies of the laws.
