The House of Representatives has released the certified copies of the four tax reform Acts recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, following public concerns over alleged discrepancies and the circulation of unauthorised versions.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi. He said the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, directed the immediate release of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Acts, including the endorsement and assent pages signed by the president, to ensure public access, verification and proper record-keeping. According to Rotimi, the decision was taken in consultation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio after allegations emerged that versions of the laws in circulation differed from those passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the president.
The controversy was first raised during plenary by Abdulsamad Dasuki, who alerted lawmakers to alleged inconsistencies between the tax Bills approved by the legislature and the versions later gazetted and released by the executive. He warned that such discrepancies, if not addressed, could erode legislative integrity and public trust in the law-making process.
Dasuki’s remarks sparked widespread debate within and outside the National Assembly, prompting calls from legal practitioners, tax experts and civil society groups for clarification and a halt to the implementation of the Acts.
In response, Abbas set up a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Aliyu Betara, with Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson as members. The committee was tasked with investigating the alleged alterations, how unauthorised versions found their way into circulation and measures to prevent future occurrences.
The Speaker also ordered an immediate internal verification of the Acts and approved the public release of the certified versions to dispel doubts, restore clarity and safeguard the integrity of the legislative record.
The four tax reform laws released are the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025. The House described the laws as central to Nigeria’s modern tax reform agenda, aimed at improving revenue administration, boosting compliance, reducing inefficiencies, eliminating duplication and strengthening fiscal coordination across the federation.
Rotimi noted that Abbas provided strong leadership throughout the reform process, from stakeholder engagement and committee reviews to clause-by-clause consideration and extensive plenary debates, ensuring the reforms were inclusive, evidence-based and aligned with the country’s fiscal realities.
Reassuring the public, Rotimi said the National Assembly operates on clear records, procedures and institutional memory, adding that every Bill and Act follows a transparent constitutional and parliamentary process.
He stressed that the only authentic and authoritative versions of the four tax laws are the certified copies released by the National Assembly, urging Nigerians to disregard any other documents or versions not duly certified, as they do not form part of the official legislative record.
