Ndume Demands House Leadership Sanction Agbese in Tax Law Dispute
Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume of the All Progressives Congress representing Borno South, has formally requested the leadership of the House of Representatives to discipline its Deputy Spokesman, Honourable Philip Agbese. This demand follows Agbese's public criticism of Ndume's position regarding the ongoing controversy over alleged falsification of tax legislation.
Controversy Over Tax Act Discrepancies
Ndume's intervention comes in response to an interview where Agbese characterized the senator's claims as "mischievous". The core issue revolves around alleged discrepancies between the Tax Acts passed by the National Assembly and the versions subsequently gazetted and distributed to the public. Ndume maintains there are significant distortions that require official investigation.
During a media briefing in Abuja, Ndume expressed strong disapproval of Agbese's remarks, stating, "I call on the leadership of the House to call this maga dog to order. The man who claims to speak for the House should not be a maga dog." He emphasized that Agbese, as deputy spokesman, lacks the seniority and direct involvement to properly engage on this sensitive parliamentary matter.
Pending Committee Investigation
The senator highlighted that the tax law alteration controversy remains under active review by a special committee led by Honourable Muktar Betara. This committee has not yet submitted its findings or conclusions, making Agbese's premature declarations particularly inappropriate according to parliamentary protocol.
"Only the Betara-led panel has the locus standi to declare after investigation that there is no difference between the version passed by parliament and that which was subsequently gazetted," Ndume asserted. He stressed that Agbese's comments should be disregarded as they originate from someone without sufficient legislative experience to comprehend the gravity of such matters.
Experience and Respect in Legislative Discourse
Ndume contrasted their parliamentary tenures, noting, "Agbese is forgiven on grounds of inexperience. He is a first-timer. I was in the House in 2003 when he was probably in secondary school." The senator described Agbese's language as disrespectful, particularly given their age difference and Ndume's extensive legislative background.
He elaborated on the generational gap, stating, "If he has the guts to say that I am mischievous, it means he can tell his father the same thing. At 66, if I'm not old enough to be his father, I am close to that. My first daughter is 40 years old." This personal dimension adds emotional weight to what began as a procedural disagreement about legislative documents.
Technical Details of the Alleged Discrepancies
The senator provided specific examples of the problematic variations he identified, explaining, "If the harmonized version says 'this shall be,' and the gazetted copy says 'this will be,' these are two different things, subject to interpretation." Such subtle linguistic differences can have substantial legal implications in tax legislation, affecting implementation and enforcement.
Ndume clarified that his original television comments were not personal attacks but procedural observations. "My position was simply that things should be done the right way. I did not insult anybody. I cross-checked the votes and proceedings, clause by clause, before I said that there were some flaws," he maintained.
Allegations of Political Motives
The senator suggested Agbese's criticism stems from ulterior motives rather than substantive concern. "I understand the dirty jobs he is doing. He is hoping to find himself in the good books of the House leadership, but he has only succeeded in embarrassing himself and the House of Representatives," Ndume alleged.
He further emphasized that Agbese does not officially represent the House's position on this matter since the legislative body has not yet taken a formal stance. The controversy remains unresolved pending the Betara committee's investigation and report.
Call for Transparent Resolution
Ndume concluded with a procedural recommendation for resolving the dispute transparently. "I insist that parliament should do a comparison and examine the sections of both versions of the Tax Acts. They should simply say, 'this is what we passed and signed.' We should do this section-by-section. This way, Nigerians will be comfortable," he proposed.
This public clash between senior legislators highlights growing tensions within Nigeria's parliamentary system regarding document integrity and proper legislative procedure. The outcome may establish important precedents for how such discrepancies between passed legislation and gazetted versions are addressed in future.
