Prime Business Africa
By Prosper Okoye
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has released official copies of four new tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu, following claims that some versions in circulation differ from what lawmakers approved.
The decision comes as the head of Nigeria’s Revenue Service said his agency would only implement the gazetted laws, dismissing concerns about alleged alterations as a legislative matter.
Prime Business Africa gathered that On Saturday, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, acting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ordered the release of the Certified True Copies of the laws, including the pages bearing the president’s signature.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelLawmakers said the move was meant to allow public scrutiny and settle doubts over the authenticity of the tax reforms.
The laws 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 issue surfaced during a plenary session when a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, said versions of the laws circulating publicly did not match the texts debated and passed by the National Assembly.
He warned that failing to address the discrepancies could weaken confidence in parliament and the law-making process.
Following his intervention, the House ordered an internal verification and agreed to publish the certified versions to clarify what it described as the official legislative record.
In a statement, the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, said the release reflected the Speaker’s commitment to transparency and proper record-keeping.
He said only the certified copies released by the National Assembly should be regarded as valid, urging the public to ignore any other versions.
The House also confirmed that an ad-hoc committee would continue investigating how unauthorised versions of the laws entered the public domain.
Lawmakers had said the gazetted tax laws contain additions, deletions, and changes not approved by the National Assembly, including alterations to oversight powers, taxpayer protections, enforcement authority, and fiscal computation rules, which they argue go beyond clerical errors.
Adedeji Insists on Using Gazetted Copy
However, the chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, said there was no controversy over the implementation of the tax laws.
Speaking on a television interview, he said his agency was concerned only with the gazetted laws, which he described as final and legally binding.
He said any debate over harmonisation or internal corrections within the National Assembly did not concern the executive.
“What we have is the gazette, and that gazette is the law,” he said, rejecting claims that the laws were altered after passage.
Mr Adedeji also clarified that the laws became operational in June 2025, when President Tinubu signed them, not in January 2026 as widely suggested.
He said some provisions were delayed until January to give businesses and tax authorities time to adjust.
The revenue chief said the reforms were designed to protect low-income Nigerians and encourage economic growth.
He said most low-income earners are exempt, VAT has been removed from basic food items and essential transport, and companies will no longer be taxed on turnover when making losses.
Mr Adedeji also dismissed claims that the reforms allow tax authorities to monitor bank accounts or impose new charges on routine transfers.
He said the focus of the reforms is to tax profits and returns, not investment, and to build trust between taxpayers and the state.
The row has left taxpayers unsure which version of the law to follow, creating confusion for businesses and raising questions about how the reforms will affect revenue collection and the economy.
