SERAP asks Tinubu to release original bills, raise probe panel

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) also yesterday urged President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to publish certified true copies of the tax laws signed into effect and the original bills received from the National Assembly. In a Freedom of Information request dated December 20, SERAP also asked the […]

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) also yesterday urged President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to publish certified true copies of the tax laws signed into effect and the original bills received from the National Assembly.

In a Freedom of Information request dated December 20, SERAP also asked the president to clarify whether the bills transmitted by the legislature are identical to the versions signed into law and gazetted.

It called for the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry, headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, to investigate the alleged alterations and identify those responsible.

SERAP warned that any unlawful alteration of duly passed legislation would violate the Constitution, international human rights obligations and the doctrine of separation of powers.

• ALGON to strengthen agric revolution, primary healthcare in 774 LGAs
• Tinubu’s 2nd term, others for debate as APC fixes March for convention

The group gave the Federal Government seven days to respond, warning it would pursue legal action if its request was ignored.

 

Northern youths reject tax laws

Northern youths under the umbrella of the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) yesterday rejected the tax laws, describing the alleged discrepancies as “governance by ambush.”

In a statement issued in Kaduna, its speaker, Mohammed Salihu-Danlami, warned that presenting Nigerians with laws different from those approved by elected representatives amounted to subverting democracy.

“This is not a clerical error; it is a constitutional crisis,” he said, adding that the controversy could have serious political consequences if unresolved.

Similarly, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) described the alleged alterations as a deliberate attempt to rewrite the will of the Nigerian people.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, the organisation warned that if proven, the action would amount to legislative forgery and a criminal hijacking of the lawmaking process.

CHRICED said the alleged insertions reportedly expanded coercive powers of tax authorities, weakened judicial oversight and imposed new burdens on taxpayers without legislative approval.

The organisation demanded the immediate suspension of the affected tax laws, a full independent investigation and prosecution of anyone found culpable, insisting that silence from relevant authorities was unacceptable.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) also said allegations that the gazetted versions of the Tax Reform Acts differ materially from the versions passed by the National Assembly raise “serious constitutional, legal and democratic questions.”

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, YZ Yau, CITAD said Nigeria’s Constitution vests law-making powers exclusively in the National Assembly, warning that any alteration of an Act outside the prescribed legislative process amounts to an unlawful intrusion into legislative authority and a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria’s chapter of Transparency International, has also raised concerns over allegations that the Presidency assented to a tax law materially different from the version passed by the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC warned that if proven, such actions would amount to a serious breach of constitutional order, legislative integrity and public trust.

The organisation said Nigeria’s law-making process is clearly defined by the Constitution, stressing that any alteration of a bill after parliamentary passage undermines democratic governance and the doctrine of separation of powers.

CISLAC urged the Presidency to publish the exact version of the tax law assented to, alongside the authenticated copy passed by the National Assembly, to enable public and institutional verification.

It called for an independent review involving relevant institutions such as the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and, where required, the judiciary, to establish the facts and assign responsibility.

Similarly African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said its forensic review showed that key accountability provisions had been deleted while new clauses conferring coercive powers on the executive had been inserted.

Describing the alleged changes as “criminal insertions”, the ADC cited provisions it claimed grant the government powers to arrest and take over the property of persons who fail to comply with the tax laws.

“The African Democratic Congress has reviewed various reports which confirm doubts that the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu contain substantial forgery of key provisions,” the statement said.

“The forensic review established beyond doubt that key accountability provisions were deleted and new provisions inserted, granting coercive powers to the executive without recourse to the courts.”

 

Attorney-General, Senate mum

There was no reaction from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, yesterday as his media aide, Kamarudeen Ogundele, neither answered calls nor replied to messages sent to his mobile telephone lines.

Similarly, the spokesman of the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, did not respond when one of our correspondents reached out to him via phone calls and WhatsApp and text messages.

 

Spotlight on House probe panel

Attention has been shifted to the seven-member ad-hoc committee set up on Thursday by the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged discrepancies in the tax laws

The committee, which is expected to submit its report within one week, is chaired by Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno).Other members are Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), James Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos), Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa) and Igariwey Iduma Enwo (PDP, Ebonyi).

Although the panel is expected to submit its report on Thursday, December 25, uncertainty surrounds the timeline, as the House is scheduled to proceed on Christmas and New Year recess before then.

Daily Trust reports that the House is expected to begin its end-of-year recess tomorrow after concluding work on the repeal and re-enactment bill seeking to extend the 2025 budget implementation to March 31, 2026.

As of the time of filing this report, it was unclear whether the committee had commenced its work. Efforts to obtain updates from the chairman and other members were unsuccessful, as calls and WhatsApp messages sent to them were not replied to.

It is also unclear which institutions or individuals the panel intends to invite in the course of its investigation, amid growing public pressure for transparency and a swift resolution.

 

Composition of the probe panel

The seven-member committee comprises five lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and two from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with three members from the North and four from the South.

 

Muktar Aliyu Betara

Betara, an APC lawmaker from Borno State, chairs the panel. He served as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations during the Ninth Assembly under former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

He is currently chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was a top contender for the speakership of the tenth Assembly before stepping down for Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.

As a ranking member with extensive legislative experience, Betara is expected to steer the panel through what many observers describe as a sensitive and constitutionally significant assignment.

 

Ahmed Idris Wase

Wase, an APC member from Plateau State, was Deputy Speaker during the Ninth Assembly and currently chairs the House Committee on Federal Character.

He also contested the speakership of the tenth Assembly. Lawmakers and observers describe him as forthright and experienced; qualities expected to shape the panel’s deliberations.

 

James Abiodun Faleke

Faleke, an APC lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, chairs the House Committee on Finance.

His committee handled the four tax bills and the harmonised reports adopted by the House after the conference with the Senate, positioning him as a central figure in the probe. He is seen as an experienced legislator and a close ally of President Tinubu.

 

Fred Agbedi

Agbedi, a PDP lawmaker from Bayelsa State, is one of two opposition members on the panel. He is the chairman of the PDP South-South Caucus in the House and is known for his outspoken positions on legislative matters.

 

Babajimi Benson

Benson, an APC lawmaker from Lagos State, chairs the House Committee on Defence. he is also a ranking member expected to play an influential role in the committee’s work.

 

Sada Soli

Soli represents Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State on the APC platform. He chaired the House Committee on Water Resources during the Ninth Assembly.

He was among lawmakers who made notable contributions and proposed amendments to controversial provisions of the tax bills before their passage.

 

Igariwey Iduma Enwo

Igariwey, a PDP lawmaker from Ebonyi State, is the second opposition member on the panel. He serves as deputy chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and is leader of the South-East caucus.