Akpabio Dismisses Claims Of Altered Tax Laws, Orders Certified Copies For Senators
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed allegations that Nigeria’s newly passed tax laws were altered after leaving the National Assembly, insisting that the versions signed into law fully reflect the resolutions reached by lawmakers.
Akpabio addressed the controversy during plenary on Wednesday, following concerns raised by Abdussamad Dakuku, a member of the House of Representatives, who alleged discrepancies between the tax reform bills approved by the legislature and versions later circulated in public.
Rejecting the claims, the Senate President said any document outside the officially certified copies should be disregarded, stressing that they do not represent the outcome of the National Assembly’s legislative process.
“Any document circulating outside the officially certified versions does not reflect our votes or proceedings,” Akpabio said, maintaining that the laws gazetted and assented to by President Bola Tinubu accurately capture the decisions of both chambers.
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He further clarified that four tax-related Acts had successfully completed the legislative process, received presidential assent, been gazetted, and certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly to eliminate confusion.
“I understand that another version is circulating which is not in compliance with our proceedings. There was no adulteration whatsoever in the final laws,” he added.
Akpabio explained that the final texts reflect resolutions reached during the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives, emphasizing that due process was followed at every stage.
To reinforce transparency and restore confidence in the legislative process, the Senate President directed the Clerk of the Senate to distribute certified copies of the tax laws to all senators.
“So every senator is expected to go home with one today,” Akpabio said, adding that senators absent from plenary would also receive their copies directly. He warned that documents must only be issued through official channels to prevent misinformation.
Meanwhile, the Senate postponed consideration of the report of its Committee on Electoral Matters to allow lawmakers more time for review. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele attributed the delay partly to the absence of the committee chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.
Backing the decision, Akpabio stressed that the Senate would prioritise diligence over speed. “We don’t need to rush the report,” he said, reaffirming the chamber’s commitment to fairness and due process.