Nigerian Lawmakers Release Certified Tax Laws

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has released certified copies of the four tax reform acts recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, following public concerns over alleged discrepancies and the circulation of unauthorised versions.

In a statement issued on Saturday, December 3, the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, said the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, directed the immediate release of the Certified True Copies (CTCs), including the endorsement and assent pages signed by the President, to allow public verification and reference.

He explained that the decision, taken in agreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, followed claims that versions of the tax laws in circulation differed from those passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

The issue was first raised during plenary by Abdulsamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who alerted lawmakers to alleged inconsistencies between the bills approved by the legislature and the versions later gazetted by the executive.

Dasuki cautioned that such discrepancies, if not addressed, could erode legislative credibility and public trust in the law-making process.

The matter sparked widespread debate, with lawyers, tax experts, and civil society groups calling for clarification and a halt to the implementation of the laws pending verification.

In response, Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Aliyu Betara, with Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi, and Babajimi Benson as members.

The committee was tasked with probing the alleged alterations, how unauthorised versions emerged and measures to prevent a recurrence.

The Speaker also ordered an internal verification of the Acts and approved the public release of the certified versions to dispel doubts, restore confidence and safeguard the integrity of the legislative record.

The four laws released 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 House described the Acts as central to Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, aimed at modernising revenue administration, improving compliance, reducing inefficiencies, eliminating duplication, and strengthening fiscal coordination across the federation.

Rotimi said the Speaker provided firm leadership throughout the reform process, from stakeholder consultations and committee reviews to detailed plenary debates, to ensure the laws were inclusive, evidence-based and reflective of Nigeria’s fiscal realities.

He reassured Nigerians that the legislative process is anchored on proper records and procedures, noting that every bill and amendment follows a traceable constitutional pathway.

He hinted that once a law is passed and assented to, its authenticity is preserved through certification and legislative custody.

Rotimi stressed that the certified copies released by the National Assembly remain the only authentic versions of the tax laws, urging the public and stakeholders to ignore any other documents in circulation that are not officially certified.