Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has openly disagreed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over claims that the newly passed tax law contains no irregularities.
Akpabio had insisted during Wednesday’s plenary session that the tax legislation approved by the Senate was intact and had not been altered, contrary to public concerns.
However, Ndume has described that position as misleading, arguing that the law signed by President Bola Tinubu does not fully reflect what lawmakers originally passed.
Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, Ndume said there are multiple versions of the tax law’s Gazette, pointing out that he personally observed discrepancies between the bill approved by the National Assembly and the document eventually signed into law.
According to the lawmaker, rather than dismissing the concerns, the Senate President should initiate an internal investigation to clarify the situation.
“We informed the leadership that what we passed is not the same as what the president signed,” Ndume said. “I don’t understand why the Senate President would say there are no discrepancies. The right thing to do is to set up a committee to verify the facts.”
Ndume further noted that even the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform, Taiwo Oyedele, has acknowledged the existence of at least two versions of the law, reinforcing the need for legislative intervention.
He stressed that his concern goes beyond the technical differences in the documents, warning against a lack of transparency in the lawmaking process.
“This is a government of the people and for the people. There should be nothing hidden from the public,” he said. “Even if it’s something personal, why hide it?”
The senator expressed surprise that Akpabio would dismiss the issue outright instead of allowing a formal review, especially since the House of Representatives has already set up a committee to examine the matter.
“This issue cannot simply be swept under the carpet,” Ndume warned. “You cannot build on disputed ground. If someone challenges this in court, the judiciary will take it seriously. The way this matter is being handled is already riddled with contradictions and controversy.”
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Ndume added that he plans to raise the issue directly with the Senate President, insisting that resolving the controversy is crucial to maintaining public trust in the legislative process.
