House of Representatives Publishes Certified Tax Reform Laws Amid Controversy

Following allegations that the versions of the tax reform laws circulating publicly differed from those passed by the National Assembly and signed by the president, the House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, ordered the immediate dissemination of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the four Acts. These copies include the president’s endorsement and assent pages, ensuring transparency and public access for verification and reference.

Origins of the Discrepancy Claims

The issue was initially brought to light by Abdulsamad Dasuki, a PDP lawmaker from Sokoto, who raised concerns on the House floor about discrepancies between the tax Bills approved by the legislature and the versions later gazetted by the executive branch. Dasuki cautioned that such inconsistencies could erode public trust in the legislative process and compromise the integrity of lawmaking.

This revelation sparked widespread debate among lawmakers, legal experts, tax professionals, and civil society groups, many of whom called for a halt to the implementation of the tax reforms until the matter was clarified.

Investigative Measures and Leadership Response

In response, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas established a seven-member ad hoc committee led by Aliyu Betara. The panel, which included members Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi, and Babajimi Benson, was tasked with probing the circumstances that led to the unauthorized dissemination of altered versions of the tax laws and recommending safeguards to prevent future occurrences.

Simultaneously, an internal review of the Acts was commissioned, and the Speaker authorized the public release of the certified documents to dispel confusion and uphold the sanctity of the legislative record.

Details of the Released Tax Reform Laws

The four statutes officially released are:

  • The Nigeria Tax Act, 2025
  • The Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025
  • The National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025
  • The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025

These laws form the cornerstone of Nigeria’s modern tax reform agenda, designed to streamline revenue collection, enhance compliance, eliminate redundancies, and foster better fiscal coordination among federal, state, and local governments.

Ensuring Transparency and Legislative Integrity

Throughout the reform process, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas demonstrated strong leadership by facilitating extensive stakeholder engagement, rigorous committee evaluations, and detailed plenary discussions. This approach ensured that the reforms were comprehensive, data-driven, and reflective of Nigeria’s economic realities.

In his statement, Akin Rotimi emphasized the National Assembly’s commitment to procedural rigor and institutional memory, noting that every legislative action-from bill introduction to final assent-is meticulously documented and traceable.

He reassured the public that the authenticity of any law is maintained through certified documentation held by the legislature, and that no ambiguity exists regarding the official versions of enacted laws.

Public Advisory on Authentic Tax Reform Documents

Rotimi urged citizens, professionals, and institutions to rely solely on the certified copies released by the National Assembly as the definitive legal texts. He warned against accepting or circulating any other versions, which are not part of the official legislative record and could mislead stakeholders.

“The only legitimate and authoritative versions of the four tax reform Acts are those certified and published by the National Assembly. Any other documents in circulation should be disregarded,” the statement concluded.