- Reps Panel Probing Alleged Alteration of Tax Laws Pledges Swift Report
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Committee pledged to submit report without delay.
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Ndume and NBA urged suspension pending investigation.
The House of Representatives committee investigating alleged discrepancies in Nigeria’s gazetted tax laws has assured that it will submit its report immediately after concluding its assignment.
The chairman of the committee, Muktar Betara, gave the assurance on Wednesday following the panel’s inaugural meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Betara heads the seven member committee set up by the House after the adoption of a matter of privilege raised by a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki. Dasuki had drawn lawmakers’ attention to what he described as serious inconsistencies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and versions later gazetted and circulated within government offices.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that he alleged that some provisions contained in the gazetted laws were materially different from what lawmakers approved, warning that any such alteration would amount to a breach of legislative procedure and the rule of law.
In a statement issued by the committee’s media unit, Betara said members were united in their resolve to complete the assignment without delay.
“The committee has resolved to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the House within the shortest possible time. At the meeting, members resolved to conclude the investigation and report back to the House within the shortest time for legislative integrity, due process, and public confidence,” Betara said.
He assured that the panel would conduct its work with diligence and transparency, adding that its findings and recommendations would be presented to the House once concluded.
The probe comes amid growing public scrutiny of Nigeria’s tax framework, particularly laws amended through recent Finance Acts. Lawmakers have expressed concern that alleged post passage alterations could undermine the integrity of the legislative process and expose taxpayers to legal and financial risks.
Meanwhile, former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the implementation of the disputed Tax Reform Acts scheduled to take effect in January. Ndume called for the setting up of an ad hoc committee to verify the authenticity of the laws, warning that implementation without resolving the controversy could erode public trust.
The Nigerian Bar Association has also called for an open investigation, saying the allegations strike at the core of constitutional governance.
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