Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has accused the National Assembly of passing fraudulent tax laws; however, Rep. Philip Agbese, the House of Representatives’ deputy spokesperson, has brushed off the accusation as baseless and misleading.
In an interview with newsmen on Sunday, Agbese made this statement, emphasising that Ndume’s accusations were malicious and might cause unneeded conflict and public mistrust in the legislature.
He made his remarks in response to Ndume’s criticism of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who had previously said that the recently approved tax legislation were flawed due to internal discrepancies.
Ndume reportedly stated in a recent interview with a famous TV show that the gazetteed tax laws were not same, and that President Bola Tinubu’s signed bills were distinct from the ones passed by the National Assembly (Gistcon).
The Borno South senator accused Akpabio of ignoring the allegations rather than conducting an investigation into the supposed inconsistencies, and he asserted that he had informed the leadership of the senate about the differences.
On the other hand, Agbese reiterated that the proper procedures were followed and that the concerns have already been handled by the relevant institutions.
He clarified that the claim that the national assembly changed the tax laws’ provisions was false and emphasised that both houses were dedicated to openness and responsibility.
In his view, accusations of a cover-up or legislative fraud are baseless as the House has already established a committee to investigate matters related to the tax laws.
“Suggesting that the tax laws were falsified is pure mischief,” he declared.
Legislative review processes exist to rectify actual mistakes or ambiguities when they occur, according to Agbese, who emphasised that the issue should not be politicised or sensationalised.
“This is precisely why the House established a committee to clarify the facts,” he stated. Legislators in Nigeria are not betraying the people’s trust.
The deputy spokesperson cautioned that lawmakers should focus on improving Nigeria’s tax system for the common good rather than being sidetracked by speculative storylines, saying that legislation should be based on facts and due procedure.