The House of Representatives has released the four tax reform Acts recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following concerns over alleged discrepancies between the versions passed by the National Assembly and copies circulating in the public domain.
The move, aimed at safeguarding legislative integrity and restoring public confidence, followed deliberations at plenary where lawmakers raised alarm over inconsistencies in the gazetted texts of the new tax laws.
Members warned that unresolved doubts could undermine trust in both the laws and the National Assembly.
Acting in concurrence with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, directed the immediate public release of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Acts, complete with the endorsement and assent pages signed by the President, to enable verification and scrutiny.
The Acts made public are the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025.
The controversy emerged after a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised a point of privilege, alleging differences between some versions of the tax laws in circulation and the texts debated and passed by the legislature. He cautioned that failure to address the issue could erode confidence in the legislative process.
In response, the House resolved to investigate the matter, prompting an internal verification of the Acts and their subsequent release.
In a statement on Saturday, House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, said the action underscored the leadership’s commitment to transparency and the sanctity of legislative records.
He said the Speaker provided firm leadership throughout the tax reform process, which involved extensive stakeholder engagement, committee scrutiny, clause-by-clause consideration and plenary debates, all anchored on constitutional and parliamentary procedures.
According to the House, the four Acts constitute the backbone of Nigeria’s tax reform framework, designed to modernise revenue administration, improve compliance, reduce inefficiencies and strengthen fiscal coordination across the federation.
Abbas was quoted as assuring Nigerians that the National Assembly remains an institution of records, where every bill and amendment follows a clear constitutional pathway, stressing that only certified versions issued by the legislature constitute the law.
The House advised the public and stakeholders to disregard any other versions not certified by the National Assembly, disclosing that the Clerk to the National Assembly has aligned the Acts with the Federal Government Printing Press to ensure uniformity and accuracy.
Meanwhile, the Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the alleged circulation of unauthorised versions of the tax laws, chaired by Rt. Hon. Muktar Betara, will continue its work to establish the circumstances surrounding the matter and recommend safeguards against future occurrences.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to constitutionalism, transparency and the protection of Nigeria’s legislative process.
