New Tax Laws Signed By President Tinubu Are Accurate – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed allegations that the new tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu were different from the version passed by the National Assembly.

Akpabio, who spoke during plenary on Wednesday, dismissed reports that the gazetted tax laws were altered after they were passed by the lawmakers.

He maintained that the versions gazetted and signed into law accurately capture the decisions taken by lawmakers in both chambers.

Akpabio, by his submission, dismissed the allegation by the House of Representatives member, Abdussamad Dakuku, who claimed that the tax reform bills approved by parliament differed from copies later made available to the public.

However, speaking on Wednesday, Akpabio dismissed such claims as unfounded.

He added that only documents issued and certified by the National Assembly should be regarded as authentic, adding that the documents were also certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly.

The Senate President acknowledged that some other versions of the tax laws might be in circulation, but they do not represent the outcome of legislative business.

Akpabio said the final texts of the laws emerged from extensive consideration in the Senate and the House, followed by harmonisation of differences between the two chambers.

“I understand that there is another version that was circulating around, which was not in compliance with what was contained in our votes and proceedings,” he said.

He affirmed that there was “no adulteration whatsoever” in the laws eventually signed by President Tinubu.

He said the bills were passed by the National Assembly, assented to by President Bola Tinubu, and subsequently gazetted.

“The four acts are ready and gazetted and signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and certified by the Clerk to the National Assembly to avoid confusion,” he said.

Akpabio directed the Clerk of the Senate to distribute certified copies of the tax reform acts to all senators present, while those absent would be given theirs later.

He warned that the documents must not be released through unofficial sources, urging the lawmakers to ignore unofficial versions in circulation to avoid misinformation.

He further explained that the gazetted versions incorporate proceedings of both chambers, including agreements reached during harmonisation, before transmission for presidential assent.