The Presidency has denied claims that the newly enacted tax reform laws were altered, insisting that reports of inconsistencies are based on fake or unofficial documents.
The controversy began after a lawmaker, Abdulsamad Dasuki, alleged that the gazette tax laws released to the public did not reflect the versions approved by the National Assembly, a development he said undermined his constitutional role.
The allegations sparked calls from prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer Peter Obi, and several civil society groups, urging the Federal Government to suspend enforcement of the laws pending clarification.
Addressing the issue on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, rejected the claims, stating that the materials circulating online were not the official copies.
According to Oyedele, comparisons being made between the purported gazetted laws and the bills passed by lawmakers are premature, as the final harmonised versions certified by the Clerk of the National Assembly have not been released to the public.
He stressed that the authority to confirm the exact content of the bills forwarded to the President rests solely with the National Assembly.
