Nigeria’s House of Representatives Releases Certified Tax Acts Amidst Controversy
The Nigerian House of Representatives has officially released the certified true copies of four crucial tax reform Acts, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. This decisive action follows a period of public unease and internal deliberation within the House concerning alleged discrepancies between the versions of these tax laws that were debated and passed by the National Assembly and those circulating in the public domain.
In response to these concerns, the Speaker of the House, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, in agreement with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, issued a directive on Saturday for the immediate publication of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the legislations. This release includes the official endorsement and assent pages signed by the President, aimed at providing the public with definitive versions for reference and verification.
The four Acts that have now been made public 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
Unpacking the Controversy and Legislative Response
The controversy first surfaced during a plenary session when a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Honourable Abdussamad Dasuki, raised a point of privilege. He brought to the House’s attention what he described as significant inconsistencies between certain versions of the newly enacted tax laws that were in circulation and the precise texts that had been deliberated upon and approved by the National Assembly. Honourable Dasuki cautioned that the continued circulation of these potentially erroneous versions, if left unaddressed, could erode public trust in the legislative process and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the enacted laws.
Prompted by this serious allegation, the House resolved to launch an investigation into the matter. This led to the Speaker’s order for an internal verification of the Acts and the subsequent public release of the certified versions. The objective was to clarify the situation, dispel any lingering doubts, and affirm the authenticity of the laws.
Commitment to Transparency and Integrity
A statement issued on Saturday by the House spokesperson, Mr. Akin Rotimi, highlighted that the decision to release the President’s signed Acts underscores the Speaker’s “long-standing commitment to transparency, legislative integrity, and public confidence in the law-making process.”
The statement elaborated on the sequence of events: “The attention of the House was drawn to the existence of inconsistent versions of the tax laws in circulation after a vigilant Honourable member identified discrepancies, raised the alarm, and formally reported the matter to the House on a point of privilege.”
It further detailed the immediate response: “Acting promptly, the Speaker ordered an internal verification and the immediate public release of the certified Acts to eliminate doubt, restore clarity, and protect the sanctity of the legislative record.”
The spokesperson also emphasized Speaker Abbas’s leadership throughout the tax reform process, noting that it was characterized by “extensive stakeholder consultations, committee scrutiny, rigorous clause-by-clause consideration, robust plenary debates, and eventual passage.” The Speaker’s guidance, according to the statement, ensured that the reforms were “evidence-based, inclusive, and aligned with Nigeria’s fiscal realities and development priorities.” Throughout this journey, the Speaker consistently advocated for reforms anchored on “clarity, fairness, and strict adherence to constitutional and parliamentary procedure.”
The Significance of the New Tax Legislations
The four newly released Acts are presented as the fundamental pillars of Nigeria’s contemporary tax reform architecture. Their primary objectives are:
- Modernizing revenue administration systems.
- Enhancing tax compliance across the nation.
- Reducing operational inefficiencies within the tax framework.
- Eliminating redundancies and overlapping jurisdictions.
- Strengthening fiscal coordination between the federal and state governments.
Reassurance and Legislative Certainty
In directing the release of the certified Acts, the Speaker conveyed a message of reassurance to Nigerians, stating that the National Assembly remains an institution that strictly adheres to due process and maintains meticulous records. “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory,” the Speaker was quoted as saying. “Every bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway. Once a law is passed and assented to, its integrity is preserved through certification and custody by the legislature. There is no ambiguity about what constitutes the law.”
The House, through the Speaker, has unequivocally assured the public that the only authentic and authoritative versions of these four tax Acts are those that have been officially certified and released by the National Assembly.
Guidance for the Public and Stakeholders
Consequently, members of the public, institutions, professionals, and all stakeholders are strongly advised to disregard and discountenance any other documents or versions of the tax Acts that are not certified by the National Assembly. Such uncertified materials are explicitly stated as not forming part of the official legislative record.
To ensure complete accuracy, conformity, and uniformity, the Clerk to the National Assembly has finalized the process of aligning the duly passed, assented to, and certified Acts with the Federal Government Printing Press. Furthermore, hard copies of the certified tax Acts have been produced and are being circulated to all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as being made available to the public. This widespread distribution aims to guarantee institutional clarity, uniform reference, and legislative certainty for all concerned.
Ongoing Investigation into Alleged Alterations
Despite the release of the certified Acts, the House has affirmed that the work of the Ad-Hoc Committee previously established to investigate the alleged alterations will proceed. This committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Muktar Betara, is mandated to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the circulation of unauthorized versions of the tax Acts. The committee is also tasked with recommending measures to prevent future occurrences and to safeguard the authenticity and reliability of parliamentary records.
The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, reiterates its steadfast commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, transparency, and accountable governance. The institution pledges to continue strengthening its internal controls, upholding institutional discipline, and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process for the collective benefit of the Nigerian people.
