The house of representatives has dismissed an interim report issued by a minority caucus ad hoc committee reviewing the tax reform laws, describing the process as non-binding and lacking parliamentary authority.
Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the lower legislative chamber, said the minority caucus does not have the constitutional or procedural power to constitute a committee with parliamentary standing.
Last Friday, the minority caucus committee, chaired by Afam Ogene, claimed it uncovered “illegal” alterations in the gazetted copies of the tax reform laws, alleging that multiple versions of the laws were in circulation.
However, Rotimi said only the house sitting in plenary or the speaker is empowered to constitute an ad hoc committee recognised by parliament.
“No political caucus, whether majority or minority, has the authority to establish a committee with parliamentary status,” he said.
“Any such action is informal, non-binding, and carries no legal or institutional consequence.”
He added that any report produced by a caucus-led committee cannot be presented to the house, received as an official document, or form part of the national assembly’s legislative or oversight records.
Rotimi said the actions of the minority caucus were inconsistent with parliamentary norms and capable of misleading the public, particularly as concerns surrounding the tax laws had already been addressed through established legislative procedures.
He recalled that in December 2025, the house constituted a bipartisan ad hoc committee following allegations of discrepancies between the tax laws passed by parliament and the gazetted versions.
According to him, the committee is expected to submit its report to the house upon completion of its assignment.
Rotimi also said the national assembly has disowned any unofficial documents in circulation, reiterating that only gazetted versions and certified true copies issued by the legislature constitute valid legislative instruments.
He warned that the creation of parallel committees and circulation of interim findings could deepen public confusion on an issue he said had been institutionally resolved.
The house, he said, remains committed to transparency and accountability within the limits of constitutional and parliamentary procedures.
