The House of Representatives has moved to quell a growing public controversy by officially releasing the certified true copies of four major tax reform Acts recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. This decisive action follows widespread concerns and allegations that unauthorised and potentially altered versions of the laws were in circulation, creating confusion and threatening the integrity of the legislative process.
Root of the Controversy and Legislative Response
The alarm was first raised on the floor of the House by lawmaker Abdulsamad Dasuki. He alerted his colleagues to alleged discrepancies between the tax Bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and published by the executive arm. Dasuki warned that such inconsistencies, if not addressed, could severely undermine public confidence in the nation's law-making institutions.
In swift response, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, in concert with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ordered an immediate internal verification of the Acts. To eliminate all doubts, Abbas directed the public release of the Certified True Copies, which include the endorsement and assent pages personally signed by President Tinubu. This move aims to provide Nigerians with an unambiguous reference point for the new laws.
Investigation and Public Assurance
To get to the bottom of the issue, Speaker Abbas constituted a seven-member ad-hoc committee chaired by Aliyu Betara. The committee, which includes members like Idris Wase, Sada Soli, and Adedeji Faleke, is tasked with a critical mandate: to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged alterations, determine how unauthorised versions entered the public domain, and recommend measures to prevent a future recurrence.
House Spokesman Akin Rotimi moved to reassure the public, emphasising the National Assembly's commitment to due process. "The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory," Rotimi stated. He stressed that the only authentic and authoritative versions of the four tax Acts are the certified copies released by the National Assembly itself. He advised all members of the public, institutions, and professionals to disregard any other uncertified documents in circulation.
The Four Pillars of Tax Reform
The newly released and certified laws form the cornerstone of Nigeria's contemporary fiscal policy framework. They are:
- The Nigeria Tax Act, 2025
- The Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025
- The National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025
- The Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025
According to the House, these Acts are designed to modernise revenue administration, enhance compliance, reduce inefficiencies, eliminate duplication of efforts, and strengthen fiscal coordination across all levels of the federation. The legislative body highlighted the thorough process these bills underwent, including stakeholder consultations, committee scrutiny, and robust plenary debates, all under the firm leadership of Speaker Abbas.
With the certified copies now in the public domain, the National Assembly hopes to restore clarity, protect the sanctity of the legislative record, and allow for the proper implementation of these pivotal economic reforms.
