A heated exchange erupted on Sunday between Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) and the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, over allegations of discrepancies in recently passed tax legislation.
The dispute stems from Ndume’s claim that the version of the tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu differed from the version passed by the National Assembly. In a television interview last week, the senator suggested that certain provisions had been altered during harmonisation and gazetting.
Agbese dismissed the allegation, describing it as mischievous. “It is sheer mischief to suggest that the tax laws were falsified,” he told journalists in Abuja, insisting that all legislative procedures were properly followed. He warned that such claims could undermine public confidence in the National Assembly, adding that a committee had already been set up to investigate the matter.
Ndume, however, reacted angrily, calling Agbese “maga dog” and accusing him of disrespect. “Agbese is too junior to take issues with me on a matter that does not affect him directly. He is the deputy spokesman of the House, not the spokesman,” Ndume said, urging House leadership to caution him.
The senator explained that the controversy is under review by a committee led by Muktar Betara, which alone has the authority to determine whether discrepancies exist between the versions passed and gazetted. He accused Agbese of inexperience and of seeking favour with House leadership. “Agbese is forgiven on the grounds of inexperience. He is a first-timer. I was in the House in 2003 when he was probably in secondary school,” Ndume remarked.
He stressed that his concerns were procedural, not personal. “I cross-checked the votes and proceedings, clause by clause, before I said there were flaws. If the harmonised version says ‘this shall be,’ and the gazetted copy says ‘this will be,’ these are two different things, subject to interpretation,” he explained.
Agbese maintained his position, reiterating that the allegations of falsification were unfounded. “This is exactly why the House set up a committee to clarify the facts. Nigerians should not be misled into thinking lawmakers are acting in bad faith. Lawmaking must be grounded in facts and due process,” he said.
The controversy first surfaced late last year when Ndume and House member Abdussamad Dasuki raised concerns about differences between versions circulated during plenary and those transmitted for presidential assent. While legislative leaders insist the bills followed due process, the ongoing committee review is expected to provide clarity on whether discrepancies occurred during harmonisation, gazetting, or transmission.
