Reps Order Review of New Tax Laws Over Alleged Post-Passage Alterations

Reps Order Review of New Tax Laws Over Alleged Post-Passage Alterations

The House of Representatives has announced a formal review of Nigeria’s recently passed tax reform laws following mounting public criticism and allegations that parts of the legislation were altered after approval by the National Assembly.

The decision was disclosed on Friday by the House Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, who said a special investigative committee has been constituted to examine the controversy surrounding the laws.

According to Rotimi, the panel has been mandated to conduct a comprehensive review 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.”

He explained that the process would include a detailed scrutiny of the laws to determine whether there were lapses, irregularities or external interference at any stage of the legislative process.

In a statement, Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, also revealed that the National Assembly—comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives—has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the Acts and issue Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the versions duly passed by both chambers.

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He urged Nigerians to exercise patience and allow the legislature’s internal mechanisms to run their course, appealing to the public to avoid “speculation or conjecture” while the review is ongoing.

The development follows concerns raised nearly two weeks ago by Abdussamad Dasuki, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, who alleged discrepancies between the tax bills passed by lawmakers and the versions later gazetted.

Dasuki claimed the final published documents differed from what was debated and approved after months of deliberations, insisting that the gazetted versions did not accurately reflect the decisions of the National Assembly.

The legislations under scrutiny include the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

Following the allegations, opposition parties, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) have called for the suspension of the tax laws, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Despite the controversy, the Federal Government has maintained its support for the reforms, arguing that the new tax framework will strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal system and ease the burden on low-income and vulnerable citizens.

Reps Order Review of New Tax Laws Over Alleged Post-Passage Alterations