Reps set up ad hoc committee, order re-gazetting of tax reform Acts amid allegations of discrepancies
The National Assembly has announced that it is reviewing the recently gazetted tax reform laws following public concerns and allegations that some provisions may have been altered after legislative passage.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, December 26, 2025, by the House of Representatives Spokesman, Akin Rotimi, who said the leadership of the National Assembly has taken formal steps to protect public interest and preserve the integrity of the legislative process.
According to Rotimi, the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, has constituted an ad hoc committee to conduct a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding the passage, assent, and publication of the tax laws.
He said the committee has been mandated to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify any administrative lapses, procedural irregularities, or possible external interferences linked to the handling of the Acts.
Clerk Directed to Re-Gazette Laws
Rotimi revealed that both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives have directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the laws and issue Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the versions duly passed by lawmakers.
The laws under review include:
- The Nigeria Tax Act, 2025
- The Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025
- The Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025
- The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025
He explained that public commentary has raised questions about the harmonisation process between both chambers, the documents transmitted to the President for assent, and the versions later published in the Federal Government’s Official Gazette.
The House, he said, is addressing the matter strictly within its constitutional and statutory authority.
Review Follows Established Legislative Procedures
The spokesman emphasised that the review is being conducted in line with the 1999 Constitution, the Acts Authentication Act, the Standing Orders of both chambers, and established parliamentary practice.
He added that the exercise does not suggest any admission of wrongdoing or defect in the lawmaking authority of the National Assembly but is intended to clarify the official legislative record and uphold transparency.
Rotimi urged Nigerians to allow the institutional process to run its course without speculation, stressing that the review is limited to internal legislative procedures and does not prejudice the powers or actions of any other arm of government.
Background to the Controversy
The review follows concerns raised on December 17, 2025, by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who alleged that the gazetted versions of the tax laws differed from those debated, harmonised, and approved by lawmakers.
Dasuki raised the issue as a matter of privilege on the floor of the House, claiming that the published Acts did not accurately reflect the content passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
The allegations sparked public debate and prompted calls for clarification on the authenticity of the gazetted laws.
The National Assembly says the ongoing review is aimed at resolving the concerns, restoring confidence in the legislative process, and ensuring that the official versions of the tax laws accurately reflect what was duly enacted by Parliament.
About the Author
