Abdussamad Dasuki, member of the house of representatives, has raised concerns over what he described as discrepancies between the tax bills passed by the national assembly and the version currently gazetted.
Dasuki spoke under a matter of privilege during Wednesday’s plenary, alleging that certain provisions in the published tax laws do not align with the harmonised text approved by both legislative chambers.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“Mr 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.
“I plead that all the documents should be brought before the committee of the whole so that we can make the relevant amendments.”
Dasuki described the situation as unconstitutional and warned against overlooking it.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and this should not be taken by this honorable house,” he added.
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, said the matter would be examined and resolved in the national interest.
