Members of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of alterations to Nigeria’s tax laws have clarified that their report is still being finalised. The committee explained why the report has not yet been submitted to the House of Representatives.
The committee was established by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas in response to claims made by a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki.
Dasuki alleged that the harmonised tax Acts passed by both chambers of the National Assembly differed materially from the version later gazetted and circulated to government agencies.
Dasuki, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raised alarms that the unauthorised changes to the tax legislation could lead to serious legal conflicts, warning that some clauses in the gazetted version of the law had not been approved by the legislature.
This raised concerns that tampering with such important legislation could undermine parliamentary authority, weaken public trust in the law-making process, and expose government agencies to potential litigation.
The allegations sparked controversy across political and legal circles, prompting lawmakers and civil society groups to demand a transparent investigation.
The seven-member Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Muktar Betara, represents a broad cross-section of Nigerian lawmakers and has been tasked with investigating the claims raised by Dasuki.
On Thursday, Iduma Igariwey, a member of the committee and representative for Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, told Punch that the committee is still in the process of concluding its investigation.
“The Committee is not done with its assignment yet. We’re likely going to be done before resumption from the Christmas break,” Igariwey said.
Former Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, another member of the committee, added that once the committee completes its findings, they will be formally presented to the House.
“A Committee properly constituted by the House makes its findings to the parliament,” Wase said.
The National Assembly is expected to resume plenary from its Christmas and New Year recess on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, when the committee’s findings may be presented for further deliberation.