The tax reform bill signed into law by President Bola Tinubu has sparked fresh controversy. Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno South, says the version signed by the president differs from the one passed by the National Assembly.
Ndume made the claim on Wednesday while speaking on Prime Times, a current affairs programme on Arise Television. He alleged that discrepancies exist between the bill approved by lawmakers and the one later assented to by the president.
The claim has renewed concerns about transparency in the lawmaking process.
Ndume Raises Concern Over Multiple Versions
Ndume said there are at least two versions of the tax law in circulation.
He said Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reform committee, acknowledged the differences. According to Ndume, Oyedele admitted that the National Assembly passed one version, while another version was signed into law.
“Oyedele admitted that there are at least two versions of the tax law,” Ndume said.
He added that any correction must come from the National Assembly.
Akpabio Dismisses Discrepancy Claims
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed claims of discrepancies in the law.
However, Ndume rejected Akpabio’s position. He described it as a personal opinion.
Ndume said he examined the law and found clear differences between what lawmakers passed and what was later gazetted.
“What was gazetted is not exactly what we passed,” he said.
House of Representatives Probes Matter
Ndume said members of the House of Representatives also raised concerns about the tax law.
He said the lawmakers did not deny the issue and have begun an investigation into the alleged discrepancies.
“The House raised issues about it,” Ndume said. “They did not deny it.”
He added that the investigation is ongoing.
Call for Explanation from Presidency
Ndume called on the presidency to explain what happened during the process that led to the signing of the law.
He said Nigerians deserve a clear account of the events surrounding the tax reform bill.
“I raised the issue early and informed the leadership,” he said.
“There is a problem because what we passed is not what the president signed.”
Background to the Controversy
The tax reform law is part of the Tinubu administration’s broader fiscal agenda. It aims to restructure taxation and boost revenue generation.
However, the law has faced criticism from some lawmakers and members of the public. They allege that changes were made after the bill passed through the National Assembly.
The controversy has raised questions about legislative integrity and executive oversight.
As investigations continue, pressure is mounting on both the National Assembly and the presidency to clarify the issue and address public concerns.
