Senate President Godswill Akpabio has rejected claims that the newly signed tax laws by President Bola Tinubu differ from the versions approved by the National Assembly.
Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, Akpabio described reports alleging post-passage alterations to the gazetted tax laws as false and misleading. He stressed that the laws signed by the President faithfully reflect the resolutions reached by lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly.
In his remarks, Akpabio dismissed allegations made by House of Representatives member Abdussamad Dakuku, who had suggested that the tax reform bills passed by parliament were not the same as the versions later released to the public. According to the Senate President, such claims are baseless.
He emphasized that only documents officially issued and certified by the National Assembly should be considered genuine, noting that the tax laws were duly certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly.
While acknowledging that alternative versions of the laws may be circulating, Akpabio clarified that they do not represent the true outcome of the legislative process. He explained that the final laws resulted from thorough deliberations in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, followed by a harmonisation process to resolve differences between the two chambers.
“I am aware that another version has been circulating, which does not align with what was captured in our votes and proceedings,” Akpabio said, adding that there was “no adulteration whatsoever” in the laws signed by President Tinubu.
He confirmed that the bills were properly passed by the National Assembly, assented to by the President, and subsequently gazetted.
“The four Acts have been duly signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, gazetted, and certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly to prevent any confusion,” he stated.
Akpabio also directed the Clerk of the Senate to distribute certified copies of the tax reform Acts to all senators in attendance, with those absent to receive theirs later. He warned lawmakers against releasing the documents through unofficial channels and urged them to disregard unverified versions in circulation to curb misinformation.
He further explained that the gazetted laws fully incorporate the proceedings of both chambers, including agreements reached during the harmonisation process, before being transmitted for presidential assent.