Senator Ali Ndume has called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to reprimand its Deputy Spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese, for criticising his position on alleged discrepancies in Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws, Ndume said in an interview in Abuja on Sunday.
The controversy centres on claims by Senator Ndume (APC, Borno South) that the version of the tax laws signed into law by President Bola Tinubu differs from those passed by the National Assembly, raising questions about legislative integrity.
Ndume’s comments followed public debate over discrepancies between harmonised bills passed in the National Assembly and gazetted copies of the laws.
The legislation at the heart of the dispute includes key tax reform Acts enacted in June 2025, intended to streamline Nigeria’s tax regime.
Allegations of alteration surfaced in late 2025 and prompted the National Assembly to set up a committee to investigate and issue certified true copies of the Acts to clarify authenticity.
Reacting to statements by Agbese, who labelled Ndume’s claims as “sheer mischief” and misleading, Ndume described the deputy spokesman’s response as unfortunate and disrespectful. Agbese contended that legislative processes were followed and that mechanisms exist to clarify any substantive issues.
Ndume told journalists that Agbese’s remarks, which he said were aimed at currying favour with House leadership, lacked legitimacy given the deputy spokesman’s position and experience. He said the matter should be addressed by the House leadership, including discipline where necessary.
“The tax laws alteration controversy is still pending before a Committee constituted by the leadership of the House,” Ndume said, referring to the Muktar Betara-led panel tasked with examining the issues.
He argued that only that committee has the authority to determine discrepancies between the versions of the law.
Ndume insisted his television comments were aimed at ensuring transparency and due process, not at individuals, and called for a thorough comparison of both the harmonised and gazetted versions on a clause-by-clause basis.
The dispute highlights tensions within Nigeria’s federal legislature over transparency in the tax reform process and the handling of public concerns about legislative integrity. Differences in interpretation and public critique by lawmakers may influence perceptions of accountability in lawmaking.
Calls for disciplinary action against a House official reflect broader institutional frictions and raise questions about internal mechanisms for resolving disagreements within the legislature. How the leadership responds could shape future discourse on procedural transparency.
Senator Ali Ndume’s appeal to the House of Representatives to call Deputy Spokesman Philip Agbese to order underscores an ongoing legislative dispute over alleged tax law falsification.
With a House committee still reviewing the matter, the clash illustrates the complexities of accountability and communication within Nigeria’s National Assembly.
