- dismisses Ndume’s claim of falsified tax laws
- pledges timely submission of AuGF’s reports
The House of Representatives has clarified that the delay in passing the electoral reform bills by the National Assembly was necessitated by the desire to harmonise all thoughts and deliver an acceptable document that would serve its purpose.
It faulted claims by Senator Ali Ndume that recently passed tax laws were falsified, describing the allegation as “sheer mischief” and misleading to the public.
This was as its Public Accounts Committee (PAC) pledged to ensure the timely submission of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Auditor General’s reports by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF).
There have been widespread agitation among many Nigerians over why the harmonised electoral bill has yet to be approved by the National Assembly after it was passed by the House of Representatives.
The House spokesman, Akintunde Rotimi, while commissioning two road projects, at the weekend, at Isaba and Oke-Ayedun in Ikole Local Council of Ekiti State, as well as a staff quarter at Odo-Oro High School, Odo Oro, urged the people to exercise a little patience to allow the federal legislators to do a thorough job that would be worth the while.
Rotimi (Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency) noted that the Amendment Bill 2026 would improve the transparency, credibility and efficiency of the democratic system and address the shortcomings exposed during the 2023 general elections.
He added that the reforms were designed to guarantee that Nigerians can vote freely and have confidence that their votes would count, describing credible elections as the foundation of any democracy.
The federal lawmaker also highlighted his extensive legislative contributions, revealing that he had sponsored over 40 bills, many of which he described as progressive and landmark interventions.
Also, Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, who spoke to reporters in Abuja at the weekend, insisted that due legislative processes were strictly followed, adding that issues being raised had already been addressed through institutional mechanisms.
Agbese warned that Ndume’s claims could create unnecessary tension and undermine public trust in the National Assembly.
“It is wrong and misleading for anyone to suggest that the National Assembly altered, concealed or falsified provisions of the tax laws. Both chambers are committed to transparency, accountability and due process,” he said.
According to him, the House had already taken proactive steps by setting up a committee to examine concerns surrounding the tax legislation, making insinuations of cover-up or legislative fraud unfounded.
“It is sheer mischief to suggest that the tax laws were falsified,” Agbese stressed.
His reaction followed comments by Ndume, who criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio for insisting that the newly passed tax laws were not tainted by inconsistencies.
The House PAC raised concerns over delays in the submission of previous reports, which hindered its oversight functions. Chairman of the Committee, Bamidele Salam, made the pledge while speaking at a retreat held over the weekend in Ghana for members, staff and stakeholders.
He stated, “By the time we took over in 2023, we were still dealing with a backlog dating back to 2019. Since then, we’ve received the 2020, 2021 and 2022 reports.
“While this shows progress, it is still insufficient because it is now 2026. We aim to convene a meeting with the Accountant General, Auditor General, Financial Reporting Council, and other stakeholders to set definite timelines for submission of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 reports.
Salam explained that the retreat provided an opportunity for introspection, reviewing past performance and setting the committee’s agenda for 2026.
“Having clear targets and performance indices at the start of the year allows us to evaluate progress, adjust strategies, and improve productivity in the work of the National AssemblyNational Assembly,” he said.
The Guardian
