Following the allegations that the gazette tax laws scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026 has been altered, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives has warned that any attempt to foist fake laws on Nigerians is an attack on the independence and constitutional role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democracy and would be restricted.
To this end the caucus called for the suspension of the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded by the National Assembly.
It also called on Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws being circulated without the signature of the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA) and the President Bola Tinubu.
It maintained that such did not originate from the National Assembly, and neither do they reflect the true character of what was actually passed by the Legislature and signed by the President.
The caucus made the call in a statement issued Monday and jointly signed by its Leader, Hon. Kingsely Chinda, Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Madaki and Deputy Minority Whip, Hon. George Ozodinobi.
The caucus noted with great consternation and overwhelming sense of disappointment the current storm brewing over the Tax Reform laws that were duly passed by the National Assembly and properly signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
It added that the controversy would have been dismissed as needless, but the gravity of the cause of the controversy is an issue of great concern to all Nigerians, especially since it borders on the accusations of unlawful alterations to the laws as passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly and subsequently signed by the President.
The caucus recalled that the issue was raised by a member of the House during a recent plenary session, following which the House inaugurated a committee to investigate the allegations made by the member that the tax laws have been “fraudulently altered”, gazetted and the altered copy circulated to the public.
It said: “As such, we want to assure Nigerians that the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, will stand with the entire House to see that the circumstances surrounding this illegality are exposed and the culprits brought to book in the interest of justice for all Nigerians.
“We are aware of the legitimate procedures towards the gazetting of laws, and it starts with the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) transmitting the actual copies of the laws to the relevant federal agency that gazettes all government documents, which means, the National Assembly is always the custodian of the genuine documents of the laws of the federation that have been passed, and, therefore, we will always make sure that it is the truth that prevails in moments of controversy such as this.
“We therefore call on Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws being circulated without the signature of the CNA and the President and Commander in Chief, such did not originate from the National Assembly, and neither do they reflect the true character of what were actually passed by the Legislature and signed by the President.
“Any attempt to foist fake laws on Nigerians is an attack on the independence and constitutional role of the National Assembly in safeguarding our democracy, and the Caucus will unconditionally protect the independence of the Legislature and our democracy.
“Consequently, we call on the government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded and there is clarity and certainty of the law to be implemented.
“Moreover, Nigerians and the business community are entitled to copies of the laws that they are expected to obey. We count on Mr. President’s democratic credentials to be responsive and responsible and heed to this call.”