In an attempt to allay rising concerns about possible tampering with the four tax reform Acts that were approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the House of Representatives has made certified true copies of the documents available to the public.
Assuring Nigerians that the National Assembly is still a records-keeping institution, the speaker directed the release of the certified Acts and emphasized that the assembly follows well-established protocols, precedents, archives, and verification procedures to ensure the validity of all laws passed.
Last night, House spokesman Akintunde Rotimi published a statement stating that members have received hard copies of the law, while the original has been made public. Rotimi said that the law has been signed by the president.
The four tax reform Acts, duly signed into law by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, have been released to Nigerians for public record, verification, and reference by the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
Following public concerns and allegations regarding purported alterations and the circulation of unauthorised and misleading versions of the laws, Speaker Abbas, in conjunction with the Senate President, H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, ordered the immediate release of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Acts, including the endorsement and assent pages signed by the President.
Speaker Abbas has always prioritized openness, honesty in legislation, and public trust in the legislative process, and this bold action further demonstrates his dedication to these values.
A watchful Honourable Member discovered inconsistencies, alerted the House, and formally reported the problem on a point of privilege, bringing the existence of contradictory copies of the tax legislation to the House’s attention. To put an end to uncertainty, restore transparency, and safeguard the integrity of the legislative record, the Speaker moved swiftly to order an internal review and the instantaneous public release of the validated Acts.
The tax reform process was led by Speaker Abbas, who was steadfast in his commitment to ensure that the changes were evidence-based, inclusive, and in line with Nigeria’s fiscal realities and development priorities. This commitment was maintained throughout, from the beginning with stakeholder consultations to the final passage.
Tax reform must be firmly grounded on transparency, equity, and rigorous compliance with constitutional and legislative procedures, as Speaker Abbas repeatedly stressed throughout the process.
Here are the four acts that have been released: 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.
“Enacted to modernize revenue administration, improve compliance, reduce inefficiencies, eliminate duplications, and strengthen fiscal coordination across the federation, these landmark legislations constitute the backbone of Nigeria’s contemporary tax reform architecture.”
“The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure and institutional memory,” Rotimi cited the Speaker as stating. It is possible to track the constitutional and parliamentary history of any bill, amendment, or act. Certification and custody by the legislature ensure that a law’s integrity is retained once it is passed and assented to. What is meant by “the law” is quite clear.
Reiterating that the four tax Acts are solely valid and authoritative when certified and released by the National Assembly, Speaker Abbas emphasized that the House would continue to be watchful and aggressive in protecting the integrity of its work.
Any additional documents or versions in circulation that have not been certified by the National Assembly should be disregarded and discounted by members of the public, institutions, professionals, and stakeholders. Such materials do not constitute part of the official legislative record.
The process of aligning the validly enacted, assented to, and certified Acts with the Federal Government Printing Press has been completed by the Clerk to the National Assembly. This will assure accuracy, conformance, and uniformity.
To further guarantee institutional clarity, uniform reference, and legislative certainty, hard copies of the certified tax Acts have also been manufactured and are being distributed to all Honorable Members and Distinguished Senators. They are also available to the public.
According to the House, the Ad-Hoc Committee headed by Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara is still investigating the spread of illegal copies of the tax Acts and making recommendations to stop it from happening again while keeping parliamentary records authentic and trustworthy.
The House of Representatives, led by Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, reiterates its steadfast dedication to constitutionalism, the rule of law, openness, and responsible leadership. In order to safeguard the legislative process in Nigeria and ensure the safety of its constituents, the House will persist in enhancing internal controls, maintaining institutional discipline, and fighting for the rights of all Nigerians.
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