The Federal Government has rejected claims that it altered recently gazetted tax laws after their passage by the National Assembly, describing the allegations as unfounded and misleading.
Titansloaded reports that the clarification follows growing concerns in the National Assembly over alleged discrepancies between the tax reform bills passed by lawmakers and the versions later signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
Addressing the issue, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the Executive did not tamper with the bills at any stage. He explained that once legislation is duly passed and transmitted to the President, the only constitutional role of the Executive is to grant assent.
Read Also: NAFDAC Deploys Officers to Block Recalled Noodles Importation
The controversy arose after a lawmaker, Abdulsamad Dasuki, raised concerns on the floor of the House of Representatives, alleging that the contents of the gazetted tax laws differed from what lawmakers approved. Following the claim, the House constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.
Idris noted that any concerns about discrepancies in legislative documents are strictly within the jurisdiction of the National Assembly. He urged the public to allow the House committee to complete its assignment without undue speculation or political tension.
According to the minister, the Federal Government recognises only one valid version of the tax laws, which is the one transmitted officially by the National Assembly to the Presidency. He added that clarity would be achieved once the legislature concludes its probe.
Also reacting, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said allegations of alterations should not be taken as facts without verified evidence. He stressed that certified copies of the bills passed by lawmakers are essential before drawing conclusions.
Oyedele cautioned that premature claims could undermine public confidence in the ongoing tax reform process, which is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s revenue base and improving fiscal governance.
The development has attracted reactions from civil society groups and political stakeholders, some of whom have called for transparency and accountability in the legislative process.
Despite the controversy, the Federal Government reiterated that the tax reforms remain critical to enhancing revenue mobilisation, simplifying tax administration, and supporting economic stability.
President Bola Tinubu recently signed four major tax reform bills into law, including the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.
The laws are expected to take effect from January 1, 2026, forming a key part of the administration’s broader economic reform agenda.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that due process was followed and that the outcome of the National Assembly’s investigation will further address any outstanding concerns.
