December 27, 2025
A northern interest group, Arewa 100% Focus, has called for an immediate review of alleged discrepancies between the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions subsequently gazetted by the Executive.
The call was made in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the group’s National President, Dr Abubakar Fakai.
Fakai said the group’s attention was drawn to claims raised by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, who represents the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, on December 17, 2025, Dasuki raised a point of order during plenary proceedings, alleging material discrepancies between the tax reform bills approved by the National Assembly and the copies later gazetted by the Executive arm of government.
Fakai stated that Dasuki disclosed that after a three-day comparison of the gazetted documents and the transmitted bills, several unauthorised alterations were discovered that deviated from the legislative intent approved by both chambers of the National Assembly.
“These changes, if confirmed, amount to a grave constitutional breach, undermining the doctrine of separation of powers and the sanctity of laws enacted through due legislative process,” Fakai said.
He noted, however, that the Federal Government, through the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed the allegations, insisting that only one official version of the laws exists and that no changes were made after President Bola Tinubu assented to them.
Fakai described Arewa 100 Per cent Focus as an organisation committed to good governance and the protection of northern interests, noting that the tax reforms have already generated widespread concerns in the region over equity and resource distribution.
According to him, the group no longer has confidence in the credibility of the current tax reform process.
“The alleged tampering with the gazetted versions reflects a disturbing pattern of insincerity by the Executive and raises serious questions about the true intent behind these changes,” he said.
Fakai warned that the disputed tax reforms could place a disproportionate burden on ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in the Arewa region.
“Such actions violate constitutional norms and erode the social contract between the government and the governed, creating distrust that could threaten national unity and economic stability,” he added.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news.
