By Peter Omopo
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Minority Caucus Ad-hoc Committee probing alleged alterations to Nigeria’s tax laws, Hon. Afam Ogene, has cautioned that dismissing the committee’s interim report would promote impunity and weaken the authority of the National Assembly.
Ogene issued the warning in a statement on Sunday in Abuja while responding to comments attributed to the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, who reportedly said the minority caucus committee’s interim report had been “overtaken by events” following the release of Certified True Copies of the affected tax laws.
The lawmaker said he felt compelled to respond because Agbese occupies a principal office in the House, which, he noted, comes with the responsibility of protecting the integrity of the legislature and democratic institutions.
Recalling his experience as a former deputy spokesperson of the 7th House of Representatives, Ogene said such positions require restraint and a commitment to safeguarding parliamentary credibility. He expressed concern that Agbese’s remarks appeared to align with the executive rather than defend the legislature.
Ogene clarified that the interim report of the minority caucus committee did not indict the National Assembly or challenge its legislative procedures. According to him, the report merely highlighted what it described as attempts by certain actors to illegally alter laws in a manner that undermines the independence and functional integrity of the legislature.
He stressed that such findings should alarm lawmakers who are committed to law-making in the public interest rather than political convenience.
The Ogbaru Federal Constituency representative further noted that the minority caucus committee was not acting alone, recalling that the House leadership had also constituted a separate committee, chaired by Hon. Muktar Betara, to compare the tax acts passed by the National Assembly with the versions that were eventually gazetted.
Questioning claims that the matter had been resolved, Ogene asked why the Betara-led committee was still in operation if the alleged discrepancies had indeed been addressed.
He maintained that the only clarity so far was the confirmation that external actors within the government bureaucracy had interfered with legislative documents, thereby compromising the constitutional authority of the National Assembly and embarrassing the institution.
Ogene warned that downplaying the issue would only embolden unacceptable practices and urged lawmakers, irrespective of party affiliation, to condemn any actions that undermine legislative due process.
He also questioned whether declaring the matter resolved meant that the National Assembly was prepared to overlook what he described as a serious procedural breach, insisting that democratic institutions thrive on accountability, not the neglect of official misconduct.
While expressing confidence in the leadership of the House, Ogene said he trusted that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas would continue to defend the independence of the legislature and uphold the public interest.
The minority caucus ad-hoc committee was constituted to independently investigate allegations that provisions of the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly were altered before being gazetted, a development that has continued to generate controversy within and outside the legislature.
