Abuja: The House of Representatives has inaugurated an ad hoc committee to investigate the deduction of taxes and sundry charges from the earnings of civil and public servants, as well as multiple bank charges imposed on customers’ accounts nationwide.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Speaker of the House, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, who inaugurated the committee, reaffirmed the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s financial system-particularly regarding tax deductions and excessive bank fees burdening citizens. Represented by the Chief Whip, Mr Usman Bello Kumo, the Speaker said the establishment of the committee reflected the legislature’s responsiveness to the complaints of Nigerians who continue to face arbitrary deductions from their salaries and accounts by both government agencies and financial institutions.
Mr Abbas stressed that the House owed it to the people to ensure financial justice, particularly for civil and public servants whose incomes were already overstretched. He condemned the growing issue of multiple and unclear bank charges, warning that such practices erode public confidence and exacerbate economic hardship. The Speaker urged the newly inaugurated committee to carry out its assignment with integrity, objectivity, and a commitment to the Nigerian people. He called for broad stakeholder engagement to ensure a comprehensive investigation that would lead to meaningful reforms.
Committee Chair, Mr Kelechi Nwogu, said the committee was established in response to growing concerns from civil servants and ordinary Nigerians over the increasing complexities and inconsistencies in tax deductions and banking fees. He described the inauguration as a significant step in the National Assembly’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability, noting that lawmakers could no longer ignore the frustrations of citizens experiencing unexplained deductions from their salaries and bank accounts.
Mr Nwogu outlined the committee’s mandate to include investigating the nature and application of taxes, levies, and salary deductions affecting civil and public servants, as well as probing potential cases of non-remittance of deducted funds. The committee will also examine various bank charges, including the Value Added Tax (VAT) applied to existing fees, with the aim of ensuring transparency and fairness. He called for full cooperation from all stakeholders-government agencies, banks, regulatory bodies, and civil society organisations-and urged committee members to work collaboratively and objectively to produce a report that delivers real change.
He expressed optimism that the investigation would lead to meaningful policy and institutional changes to enhance financial fairness and accountability in Nigeria.