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The House of Representatives has released certified copies of four landmark tax reform Acts following growing concerns over unauthorised versions circulating online and in public spaces.
The move comes after President Bola Tinubu insisted that the laws would take effect on January 1, 2026, despite controversy over their authenticity.
In a statement signed by Rep. Akintunde Rotimi, Spokesman for the House, the legislature said the release was intended to restore public confidence and clarify any ambiguity.
“The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway. Once a law is passed and assented to, its integrity is preserved through certification and custody by the legislature. There is no ambiguity about what constitutes the law,” Rotimi said.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, in collaboration with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, directed the immediate public release of the certified Acts, including presidential assent pages, following reports of inconsistencies in versions circulating outside official channels.
“The attention of the House was drawn to the existence of inconsistent versions after a vigilant Honourable Member identified discrepancies, raised the alarm, and formally reported the matter on a point of privilege. Acting promptly, the Speaker ordered internal verification and the immediate public release of the certified Acts to eliminate doubt and restore clarity,” the statement said.
The 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.
Rep. Rotimi emphasised that the House’s Ad-Hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, is continuing its work to investigate the circumstances surrounding the circulation of unauthorised versions and to recommend measures that will prevent a recurrence.
“The Ad-Hoc Committee’s mandate remains critical to safeguarding the authenticity and reliability of parliamentary records. The House will continue to strengthen internal controls, uphold institutional discipline, and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process,” he said.
According to the statement, the Acts have been subjected to rigorous stakeholder consultations, committee scrutiny, plenary debates, and clause-by-clause considerations before final passage.
The release of certified copies to members, institutions, and the public ensures a uniform reference and affirms the official legislative record.
The House urged Nigerians to disregard any documents not certified by the legislature.
“The only authentic and authoritative versions of the four tax Acts are those certified and released by the National Assembly,” Rotimi said.
With President Tinubu confirming the new tax laws will take effect from January 1, the House’s swift action seeks to quell public concerns, ensure legislative clarity, and reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s tax reform architecture.
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