Lawmakers Set Up Ad Hoc Committee; Opposition, Civil Groups Warn Against January 2026 Rollout
The House of Representatives has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged discrepancies between the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly and the official gazetted versions currently circulating within government agencies.
The move comes amid growing controversy over the newly enacted tax laws, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on the Federal Government to postpone the January 1, 2026 commencement date by an additional six months, citing alleged illegal alterations to the legislation.
PDP Seeks Six-Month Extension Over Alleged Illegal Changes
The opposition party said the requested delay is necessary to allow for a thorough investigation into the alleged alterations and to enable adequate public sensitisation on the new tax regime.
According to the PDP, any discrepancy between the law passed by parliament and the gazetted version undermines constitutional order and could expose the legislation to legal challenges.
Tinubu Signs Sweeping Tax Reforms Into Law
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently signed four landmark tax reform bills into law, describing them as the most comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
The new laws include:
- The Nigeria Tax Act
- The Nigeria Tax Administration Act
- The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act
- The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act
The reforms unify tax administration under a single authority, the Nigeria Revenue Service and aim to simplify compliance, broaden the tax base, eliminate multiple taxation, and modernise revenue collection across federal, state and local governments.
A six-month transition period was built into the framework, with full implementation scheduled for January 1, 2026.
Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Gazetted Version
Concerns intensified on Wednesday when a PDP lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised a motion on the floor of the House, drawing attention to alleged inconsistencies between the bills passed by lawmakers and the versions gazetted by the Federal Government.
Dasuki warned that the alleged insertions and substitutions, if confirmed, could render the laws legally defective, as they did not receive legislative approval.
“This is a breach of the Constitution and must not be treated lightly,” he said, urging lawmakers to compare both versions line by line.
Speaker Sets Up Seven-Man Investigative Committee
At Thursday’s plenary session, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, acknowledged the gravity of the allegations and announced the immediate formation of a seven-member ad hoc committee to probe the matter.
The committee is chaired by Mukhtar Betara, with Idris Wase, James Faleke, Sada Soli, Igariwey Iduma, Fredrick Agbedi, and Babajimi Benson as members.
The committee is expected to submit its findings to the House for further legislative action.
PDP Warns Against Sweeping Matter Under the Carpet
In a statement on Thursday, the PDP commended Dasuki for what it described as his “diligence and courage,” while insisting that the discrepancy must be fully investigated.
The party warned that inserting provisions not passed by lawmakers could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s legislative process, adding that Nigerians deserve assurance that the laws governing them are validly enacted.
Opposition Coalition Demands Suspension of Tax Plan
The controversy deepened on Wednesday when the National Opposition Movement (NOM) demanded the immediate suspension of the tax reforms.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NOM spokesperson Chille Igbawua said the new tax regime would worsen economic hardship, describing it as “punitive” at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with poverty, unemployment, and rising living costs.
“You cannot tax hunger. You cannot tax poverty. And you cannot tax people into prosperity,” he said.
Federal Government Pushes Back
The Federal Government, however, rejected the criticism, insisting that the reforms are pro-poor and aimed at strengthening national revenue without burdening ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during the inauguration of a joint committee involving the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, the President’s Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, accused some individuals of attempting to undermine the reform process.
He cited infrastructure projects such as the partial opening of the Brass–Nembe Road as evidence of the benefits of improved revenue mobilisation.
Officials Promise Public Enlightenment Campaign
Earlier, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, said the reforms were designed to ease, not worsen, the burden on Nigerians, noting that misinformation had fueled public anxiety.
The Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by Nura Kobi, assured that the agency would deploy its communication platforms across all 774 local government areas to educate citizens on the new laws.
“Public policies rarely fail because they are poorly designed; they fail because they are poorly communicated,” he said.
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