National Assembly orders fresh gazette of tax laws

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The House of Representatives has ordered a fresh gazetting of Nigeria’s disputed tax reform laws following public outrage and allegations that parts of the Acts were altered after their passage by the National Assembly.

The directive was confirmed on Friday by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, who said the Green Chamber has begun a formal review of the legislative and administrative processes that produced the laws.

According to Rotimi, a special committee has been inaugurated to “establish the sequence of events and identify any factors that may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding the legislative and administrative handling of the Acts.”

In a statement, the lawmaker, who represents Ekiti North (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, said the review would include “a careful examination of any lapses, irregularities or external interferences, should any be established.”

He disclosed that the National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the laws and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by both chambers.

Rotimi appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, urging the public to “allow the National Assembly’s institutional processes to proceed without speculation or conjecture.”

The move follows allegations raised nearly two weeks ago by a Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, who claimed there were discrepancies between the tax bills passed by lawmakers and the versions later gazetted.

Dasuki alleged that the gazetted laws did not reflect the provisions debated and approved by the National Assembly after months of intense deliberations and public controversy.

The legislations affected 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 emerged, opposition parties, labour unions such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have called for the suspension of the laws, which are expected to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Despite the backlash, the Federal Government has continued to defend the reforms, insisting they are aimed at simplifying Nigeria’s tax system and easing the burden on vulnerable citizens.

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