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The House of Representatives Minority caucus has set up a seven-member committee to investigate allegations that the recently assented tax reform laws were altered after being passed by the National Assembly.
Headed by the lawmaker, Afam Ogene, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, the committee is tasked with unraveling the circumstances surrounding the alleged discrepancies and advising the caucus on steps to safeguard the national interest.
The decision follows a motion raised during plenary by Abdussamad Dasuki, a representative from Sokoto State, who alleged that the tax laws published in the official gazette are materially different from the harmonised versions passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Although Speaker Tajudeen Abbas had earlier set up a seven-member panel to look into the allegation, the House later directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to re-gazette the harmonised version of the laws and issue a Certified True Copy as part of efforts to calm the growing controversy.
Notwithstanding appeals for the Nigerian Government to suspend the implementation of the new tax regime pending clarification of the alleged alterations, the government on Thursday went ahead with its rollout, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, as the new tax framework took effect.
In a statement released on Friday, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, alongside three other leaders of the caucus, said the decision to establish a separate committee followed extensive consultations.
“We wish to inform our members that after wide-ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders over the lingering controversy surrounding allegations of unlawful alterations to the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, and in view of the executive’s resolve to commence implementation of the laws from January 1, 2026, the leadership of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives considered it necessary to constitute a seven-man fact-finding committee to thoroughly examine all issues linked to this scandal,” the statement said.
Chinda said the opposition caucus considered an independent inquiry necessary in the interest of accountability.
“As the opposition bloc in the House of Representatives, we believe we owe Nigerians a duty to conduct a fair, independent and non-partisan investigation in order to establish the facts and uncover the truth surrounding the tax laws,” he added.
The statement outlined the committee’s terms of reference to include obtaining copies of the tax laws as passed by both chambers and assented to by the President; securing the Nigerian Government gazette containing the disputed version; comparing both documents to determine whether the laws signed by the President align with those gazetted; and proposing appropriate actions should any irregularities be established.
Members of the committee include Jonathan Gbefwi, Shehu Fagge, Aliyu Garu and Stanley Adedeji, with Ibe Okwara and Marie Ibikake also serving on the panel.
The lawmakers are expected to submit their findings to the minority caucus within seven days.
Reaffirming its position, the Chinda-led caucus pledged to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
“We want to reassure Nigerians of our unwavering commitment to protecting their interests. This step is part of our determination to fully uncover the truth behind this controversy, which has continued to overheat the polity.
“We are resolute in ensuring that Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable, are not short-changed,” the statement said.
