Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has faulted the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over claims that there are no discrepancies in the new tax law passed by the Senate.
Bellnews reports that Akpabio, during the plenary on Wednesday, said the new tax law is not adulterated as the public has perceived it.
However, Ndume, during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme, differed with Akpabio, insisting that the new tax is fundamentally flawed.
According to Ndume, there are at least two versions of the Gazette for the new tax law, stressing that he was among those who identified the differences between what was passed and what President Bola Tinubu signed.
Ndume noted that Akpabo ought to set up a committee to find out the discrepancies rather than saying there is no adulteration.
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He said, “We called the leadership to let them know that what we passed is not what the president signed. I don’t know why Sen. Akpabio is saying there are no discrepancies when he should set up a committee to find out.
“You will agree with me that even the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on tax reform, Taiwo Oyedele, admitted that they are differentials, two versions, or at least two versions of the tax law, and that if something has to be done, it has to be the National Assembly.
“My problem is not whether there are discrepancies or not. I’m worried about doing things behind closed doors. This is government of the people, for the people and by the people. And for God’s sake, why would you hide anything, even if it is personal?
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“I’m surprised that the Senate President said there’s no adulteration. He’s not supposed to do that. He’s supposed to say, okay, we’ll find out. Set up a committee, because the House of Representatives has done that too, to find out.
“I will talk to him on that. This is not something that they can just bury. You know why? You cannot build on nothing, or you cannot build on disputed grounds.
“What if somebody now goes to court? You think the court will not listen to them? The way they are going about it up initial is full of contradiction and controversy.”