Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives, has alerted his fellow lawmakers to claims that tax bills passed by both chambers of the National Assembly have been altered.

During a plenary session on Wednesday, Dasuki raised a matter of privilege, alleging that the gazetted copy of the new tax laws currently being distributed contains clauses that differ from the harmonised version approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker stated that he had spent the previous three days reviewing the gazetted documents and comparing them with the official records of the National Assembly.

He said, “I’m here today because my privilege has been breached as a member of this all-important House. Mr Speaker, Honourable colleagues, we passed the tax laws (bills) on this floor. 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 harmonised.

“Mister Speaker, Honourable 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 harmonised 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.”

Dasuki urged the House to re-examine the original version they had passed to ensure the law reflects the legislature’s intent.

He called on the House to revisit the version passed, saying, “I plead that all the documents should be brought before the Committee of the Whole so that we can make the relevant amendments.”

The lawmaker further characterized the situation as a violation of the nation’s legal framework.

He described the development as a breach of the Constitution. “This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and this should not be taken by this Honourable House,” he added.

In response to these allegations, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, assured the assembly that the matter would be investigated.

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said the lawmakers would look into the issue and address it in the interest of the nation.