December 17, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
The Nigeria House of Representatives has initiated a formal investigation into alleged discrepancies in the new tax laws recently gazetted by the federal government, with some lawmakers warning that the officially published texts circulating publicly do not match the versions passed by the National Assembly earlier this year.
During Wednesday’s plenary session in Abuja, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) raised the alarm under a Point of Privilege, saying that a careful review of the gazetted tax laws revealed significant differences in certain clauses when compared with the harmonised bills that were approved by both the House and the Senate.
Dasuki urged Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to order a thorough review of all documents including the version passed by lawmakers, the votes and proceedings of both chambers, and the Official Gazette copies now in circulation before the new tax laws take effect on January 1, 2026. He described the situation as a breach of the Constitution, asserting that presenting a gazetted version that differs from what was passed “undermines the legislative process and citizens’ trust.
“We passed these bills on this floor,” Dasuki said, arguing that his vote was recorded on specific clauses that now appear inconsistent with the gazetted text currently being distributed through the Ministry of Information. He called on all relevant documents to be brought before the Committee of the Whole so necessary corrections can be made before implementation.
Speaker Abbas acknowledged the concern and assured lawmakers that the matter would be addressed in the interest of the nation, signalling the House’s readiness to probe the inconsistencies and clarify discrepancies before the laws are fully operational.
The tax reform laws which include the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Joint Revenue Board Act, and related statutory changes were passed by the National Assembly earlier in 2025 and signed into law in June as part of a sweeping overhaul of the country’s fiscal framework set to take effect in January 2026.
Opposition figures and civil society have closely watched the tax reform process, noting that while the overhauled laws are intended to streamline taxation, reduce multiple levies, and boost revenue generation, clarity and consistency of the legal texts are critical to avoiding confusion, potential litigation, and enforcement challenges once the reforms begin.