Council raises constitutional concerns over differences in passed and gazetted bills

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called for a thorough investigation into alleged discrepancies between tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The call follows a claim raised on the floor of the House of Representatives by Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who alleged that the tax laws released to the public were not the same as those debated, voted on and approved by lawmakers.

Rising on a matter of privilege under the House Rules, Dasuki told his colleagues that his legislative rights had been breached, insisting that additional clauses and material changes appeared in the gazetted laws without the approval of the National Assembly.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Secretary General of SCSN, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, said the council viewed the allegations with utmost seriousness, noting that any confirmed alteration would amount to a grave constitutional violation.

The council said it actively monitored and contributed to the legislative process on the tax reform bills because of the wide impact of tax laws on citizens, businesses, and religious, social and economic obligations across the country.

According to the statement, the council was deeply disturbed by claims that laws collectively debated and agreed upon by elected representatives may have been altered at the executive level, warning that such actions could undermine democracy and public trust.

SCSN called on the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to ensure a transparent comparison between the harmonised bills passed by both chambers and the versions eventually gazetted.

The council stressed that this review should be completed before the tax laws take effect on January 1, 2026, to avoid constitutional disputes and confusion over the authenticity of the laws.

It warned that unresolved discrepancies could erode confidence in democratic institutions, weaken the separation of powers, expose the laws to legal challenges and create economic uncertainty, urging urgent and transparent action to uphold constitutional order and public accountability.

Source: Daily Trust