Tax law controversy deepens as National Assembly orders re-gazette, probes alleged post-passage changes

The National Assembly has ordered a fresh gazetting of Nigeria’s tax reform laws and launched a review of their legislative handling following allegations that key provisions were altered after passage.

The House of Representatives made the decision amid mounting public backlash, with its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, confirming on Friday that a special committee has been inaugurated to examine the process that produced the disputed Acts.

Rotimi said the committee’s mandate is to “establish the sequence of events” surrounding the passage and gazetting of the laws and to determine whether there were “lapses, irregularities, or external interferences” in their legislative or administrative handling.

In a statement, the lawmaker, who represents Ekiti North (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, disclosed that the Senate and the House of Representatives have jointly directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the Acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions formally approved by both chambers.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid speculation, noting that the matter is now being addressed through established institutional procedures.

The move follows claims by Abdussamad Dasuki, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, that the versions of the tax laws published in the official gazette differed from what lawmakers debated and passed after months of contentious deliberations.

Dasuki had alleged that significant changes were introduced without legislative approval, raising concerns about the integrity of the process and the authenticity of the laws.

The affected legislations include the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

Since the allegations surfaced, opposition political parties, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have called for the suspension of the laws, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Despite the controversy, the Federal Government has defended the reforms, arguing that the laws are intended to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system, strengthen fiscal management, and ease the tax burden on vulnerable citizens.

The National Assembly’s decision to re-gazette the laws is expected to heighten scrutiny of the tax reforms and could influence their eventual implementation timeline.