By Muhammad Mamman
A caucus in the House of Representatives has raised the alarm over what it described as a deliberate alteration of the recently gazetted tax law, alleging that the changes were aimed at weakening the authority of the National Assembly.
The lawmakers said the version of the tax legislation published in the official gazette does not fully reflect what was debated, amended and passed by the legislature, warning that such discrepancies pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic and lawmaking processes.
Speaking on behalf of the caucus, the lawmakers expressed concern that provisions critical to parliamentary oversight and control were either modified or omitted entirely in the gazetted document. They described the development as unacceptable and capable of setting a dangerous precedent where the will of elected representatives is subverted after due legislative process.
According to the caucus, the National Assembly remains the sole constitutionally empowered body to make laws for the country, and any post-passage alteration of legislation amounts to an erosion of legislative independence. They insisted that no arm of government or institution has the authority to tamper with laws duly passed by parliament.
The caucus called for an immediate review of the gazetted tax law to ensure it aligns strictly with the version approved by both chambers of the National Assembly. They also urged the relevant authorities to clarify how the alleged alterations occurred and to take steps to prevent a recurrence.
The lawmakers warned that failure to address the issue promptly could undermine public confidence in the legislative process and strain relations between the legislature and other arms of government.
They reaffirmed their commitment to defending the integrity of the National Assembly and ensuring that all laws in force accurately reflect the decisions of the people’s representatives.
