The House of Representatives has said that its investigation into the alleged alteration of a tax law is still ongoing, assuring Nigerians that the matter will be thoroughly examined in the interest of transparency and accountability.

The Chairman of the House Committee probing the allegation gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday, saying that the committee had neither concluded its work nor submitted any report to the House.

According to him, claims in some quarters that the investigation had been stalled or quietly concluded were incorrect and misleading.

“The committee is still carrying out its assignment. We are at the stage of reviewing documents and engaging relevant stakeholders to establish the facts surrounding the alleged alteration of the tax law,” he said.

He explained that the probe was instituted following petitions and public concerns that certain provisions of an existing tax law were allegedly altered without following due legislative process.

The lawmaker stressed that the House takes such allegations seriously, as tax laws directly affect government revenue, businesses and citizens.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that every law passed by the National Assembly reflects the true intention of lawmakers and the will of the Nigerian people. Any unauthorised alteration, if established, will not be condoned,” he added.

He further disclosed that the committee had invited officials from relevant government agencies, legislative staff and other stakeholders connected to the drafting, passage and gazetting of the law to clarify their roles.

According to him, some invitations have already been honoured, while others are expected to appear before the committee in the coming days.

The chairman urged the public to exercise patience and allow the committee to complete its work, noting that a comprehensive report would be presented to the House at the appropriate time.

He also assured that the proceedings of the probe were being conducted in line with the House rules and the Constitution.

The House of Representatives had earlier resolved to investigate the alleged alteration amid growing public debate and concerns from civil society organisations over the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process.

The outcome of the probe, the lawmaker said, would help strengthen confidence in the National Assembly and prevent a recurrence of similar issues in the future.