Reps Launch Review of Tax Reform Laws Amid Public Outcry
The House of Representatives has commenced a fresh review of the recently passed tax reform laws following widespread criticism and allegations that parts of the legislation were altered after approval.
The spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi, disclosed that a special committee has been constituted to conduct an internal probe into the matter. According to him, the panel will trace the chain of events surrounding the passage, documentation and subsequent handling of the Acts to determine whether any irregularities occurred.
In a statement issued on Friday, Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, explained that the exercise would involve a detailed assessment of the legislative process, including any procedural gaps, possible errors or undue external influence, if established.
He further revealed that the National Assembly, made up of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, has instructed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the tax laws and provide Certified True Copies of the versions officially passed by the two chambers. Rotimi urged members of the public to exercise patience and avoid speculation, noting that the National Assembly’s internal mechanisms were already addressing the concerns raised.
The development follows an alert raised about two weeks ago by Abdussamad Dasuki, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, who alleged discrepancies between the tax bills approved by lawmakers and the versions later gazetted.
Dasuki claimed that the final published documents did not accurately reflect the outcome of months of deliberations and amendments on the floor of the National Assembly.
The laws under scrutiny include the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
Since the allegations surfaced, opposition figures, political parties and organised groups such as the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigerian Bar Association have called for a halt to the implementation of the laws, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Despite the growing controversy, the Federal Government has stood by the reforms, maintaining that the new tax framework is designed to strengthen the country’s revenue system and ease the burden on low-income and vulnerable citizens.
