by Ajewole Joshua|ABNews| January 3, 2025
Abuja — The House of Representatives has released the certified versions of four recently signed tax reform laws following concerns over the circulation of inconsistent and unauthorised copies of the Acts across the country.
The move, directed by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and backed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, came after lawmakers raised alarm over discrepancies discovered in different versions of the tax laws being shared publicly. A member of the House reportedly identified the inconsistencies and formally drew attention to the matter on a point of privilege, prompting immediate internal verification.
In response, the leadership of the National Assembly ordered the public release of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Acts, including the presidential assent pages signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to clear doubts and establish a single, authoritative legislative record.
The four Acts 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. Together, they form the core of Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform framework aimed at improving revenue administration, reducing duplication, enhancing compliance, and strengthening coordination among revenue authorities.
Speaker Abbas said the emergence of conflicting versions of the laws made it necessary for the House to act swiftly in order to protect the integrity of the legislative process and restore public confidence. He stressed that once a bill is passed and assented to, its content is preserved through established certification and custody procedures, leaving no room for ambiguity.
According to him, the National Assembly operates as an institution of records, with every amendment and legislative action following a traceable constitutional and parliamentary process. He emphasised that only the versions certified and released by the legislature constitute the law.
The House has therefore advised members of the public, professionals, institutions, and other stakeholders to disregard any tax law documents in circulation that are not certified by the National Assembly, describing such versions as misleading and unofficial.
To further ensure uniformity and accuracy, the Clerk to the National Assembly has completed the alignment of the certified Acts with the Federal Government Printing Press. Hard copies have been produced and circulated to lawmakers and made available for public reference.
Meanwhile, an ad-hoc committee chaired by Rt. Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara has been mandated to investigate how the unauthorised versions entered circulation and to recommend safeguards to prevent a recurrence.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, constitutionalism, and the rule of law, pledging to strengthen internal controls and protect the credibility of Nigeria’s legislative records as the country implements its tax reforms.
