A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has alleged that the gazetted version of newly passed tax laws differs from the harmonised bills approved by both chambers of the National Assembly.

Raising the matter under privilege during plenary, Dasuki said his review of the gazetted copy, alongside the votes and proceedings of the House and the Senate, revealed discrepancies in some clauses.

According to him, “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”.

He alleged that the version currently in circulation and being presented to the public by the Ministry of Information does not reflect what lawmakers approved.

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.

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Dasuki described the situation as a breach of the Constitution and urged the House to revisit the harmonised documents.

The speaker called for all relevant records to be laid before the Committee of the Whole to enable necessary corrections.

In response, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, assured members that the House would look into the allegations and address the matter in the interest of the nation.

Source: Punch