Reps Confirm Unauthorized Changes to Tinubu-Signed Tax Laws

Proposed tax reforms bills

Reps Confirm Unauthorized Changes to Tinubu-Signed Tax Laws

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has officially confirmed that unauthorized alterations were made to key tax reform laws after they were passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, deepening a controversy that has triggered calls for accountability and legal review.

The confirmation followed an interim report by the House Minority Caucus ad-hoc committee, which found discrepancies between the versions of the tax laws approved by lawmakers and the copies later gazetted for public use. According to the committee, multiple versions of some Acts are currently in circulation, none of which fully align with what the legislature passed.

Among the affected laws are major reforms governing tax administration, revenue collection, and enforcement powers. Lawmakers said some gazetted versions introduced new thresholds, enforcement provisions, and taxpayer obligations that were never debated or approved by the National Assembly.

Growing Reactions and Related Developments

Following the disclosure, the House leadership directed the release of certified true copies (CTCs) of the affected tax Acts to enable public verification. The move came after sustained pressure from lawmakers, legal practitioners, and civil society groups.

Several organisations, including anti-corruption and accountability groups, have urged President Tinubu to order an independent investigation to determine how the alterations occurred and who was responsible. Some groups have also called for the suspension of implementation of the affected tax laws until the discrepancies are resolved.

Legal experts have warned that any law altered outside the legislative process could face constitutional challenges in court, potentially invalidating disputed provisions and exposing officials involved to sanctions.

As investigations continue, the House of Representatives says it is committed to restoring legislative integrity and ensuring that Nigeria’s tax laws reflect exactly what lawmakers passed and the President assented to.