A significant controversy has erupted in Nigeria's National Assembly over alleged alterations to recently passed tax legislation. A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has raised a formal alarm, claiming that the official gazetted versions of new tax laws in public circulation contain changes not approved by the lawmakers.
Dasuki's Privilege Motion on the Floor
During a plenary session on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Honourable Abdussamad Dasuki brought the issue before the House. He stated that his privilege as a legislator had been breached because the laws he voted on were not the ones later published. Dasuki explained that he had meticulously compared documents over the preceding three days.
"I took my time in the last three days to look at the gazetted copy," Dasuki told the assembly. "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 harmonized." His conclusion was stark: "What was passed on this floor is not what is gazetted."
Allegations of Constitutional Breach
The lawmaker described the situation as a serious violation of Nigeria's constitutional process. He emphasized that he was present during the voting and that his vote was counted for a specific version of the bills. The discovery of a different text being sold to the public, reportedly through the Ministry of Information, prompted his urgent motion.
"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 asserted. He pleaded with the Speaker to have all relevant documents brought before the Committee of the Whole for scrutiny and necessary amendments, stressing that "this is a breach of the Constitution and our laws."
Speaker's Response and Next Steps
In response to the serious allegations, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, acknowledged the gravity of the issue. He assured the chamber that the House would look into the matter thoroughly. Speaker Abbas committed to addressing the discrepancies in the interest of the nation, implying that a formal investigation would follow to reconcile the passed versions with the gazetted copies.
This development casts a shadow over the legislative process for critical tax reforms and raises questions about the integrity of law publication in Nigeria. The outcome of the promised investigation will be closely watched by stakeholders and the public alike.
