The allegation by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki, that newly passed tax laws were altered ahead of their implementation has sparked widespread public outrage.
Dasuki, in a video that has gone viral on X, claimed that the versions of the tax laws gazetted and made available to the public differ from those passed by the National Assembly. He alleged that the changes were substantial and not mere clerical errors, warning that such discrepancies amount to a breach of the Nigerian Constitution.
Addressing the House, the lawmaker said what lawmakers approved on the floor was not what was eventually published.
“What was passed on this floor is not what is gazetted. I gave my vote, and it was counted, yet I am seeing something completely different,” he said.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and our laws, and it should not be taken lightly by this Honorable House.”
In response, Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, assured members that the matter would be investigated.
The allegation has since triggered strong reactions from Nigerians, many of whom described the situation as grave and potentially impeachable if proven. An X user, OurFaveOnlineDoc, accused the presidency of undermining the legislature, calling the development “a new low for the country.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong also weighed in, stating that any confirmed alteration of laws passed by parliament would amount to an impeachable offense.
“This is an impeachable offense,” he wrote on X.
Another user, Obiasogu David, described the allegation as “constitutional fraud” if found to be true.
As of the time of filing this report, the presidency has not issued an official response to the claims.
Nigerian Newssphere reports that the new tax law, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June, is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.
