The Presidency has issued a firm rebuttal against allegations of discrepancies in the recently enacted tax reform legislation, labeling such claims as baseless and misleading. This official response comes amidst mounting pressure from prominent political figures and civil society groups urging a suspension of the laws.
Oyedele Dismisses Allegations as False
Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has categorically denied reports that the versions of the tax bills signed into law by President Bola Tinubu differ from those passed by the National Assembly. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television's Morning Brief, Oyedele stated that there is no evidence to support the allegations of altered provisions.
He clarified the procedural hurdles, explaining, "Before you can say there is a difference between what was gazetted and what was passed, we need to have what was passed. What has been circulating has not been gazetted, and we do not have the certified harmonised version for comparison." Oyedele emphasized that even he does not possess the final harmonised copy that was transmitted to the President, noting that only lawmakers can authoritatively confirm the document they sent.
Controversy and Calls for Suspension
The clarification from the Presidency arrives in the wake of significant controversy surrounding the four new tax laws, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. The calls for their suspension have come from a broad coalition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and several civil society organisations.
The initial alarm was raised by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, who alleged inconsistencies between the bills debated on the floor and the final published versions, claiming a violation of legislative due process. In response, the House of Representatives has established a committee to investigate these claims.
Addressing Specific Concerns and Outlining Reforms
Oyedele also addressed a specific concern regarding a provision on a 20% tax deposit, found in Section 41(8) of a draft. He confirmed that this clause was not included in the final gazetted law, attributing its circulation to a premature committee report. "Some people wrote and circulated a committee report before the committee had even met," he stated, urging stakeholders to allow the legislative investigation to run its course.
President Bola Tinubu recently signed the landmark legislation, described as the most comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria's tax system in decades. The new legal framework consists of:
- The Nigeria Tax Act
- The Nigeria Tax Administration Act
- The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act
- The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act
These laws will operate under a unified authority, the Nigeria Revenue Service. The Federal Government has highlighted that the reforms will introduce over 50 exemptions and reliefs for low-income earners, small businesses, and everyday taxpayers, effective from the start of 2026.
