Wahala surrounding Nigeria new tax reform laws don increase as National Assembly release Certified True Copies (CTCs) of di Acts, confirming earlier fears say differences dey between di laws lawmakers pass and di versions wey government later gazette.
Di CTCs clearly show di exact provisions wey National Assembly approve and transmit to President Bola Tinubu for assent, giving official proof of wetin lawmakers actually pass.
House of Representatives on Saturday release di CTCs of four major tax reform Acts wey President Tinubu recently sign into law, following public outcry and allegations say unauthorised and altered versions of di laws dey circulate.
Di four Acts include: Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025.
House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, for statement, say di release happen on instruction of Speaker of di House and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after reports emerge say different versions of di tax laws dey in circulation.
Earlier, one lawmaker, Abdulsamad Dasuki, raise alarm during plenary, alleging say di tax laws gazetted no match wetin lawmakers debate and approve. He say di situation breach him legislative rights and question di integrity of di lawmaking process.
Di tax bills pass through di House for February after months of debate, public hearings and clause-by-clause review, before Senate and House harmonise dem. President Tinubu later sign di bills into law on June 26.
According to Rotimi, di issue surface after a lawmaker raise point of privilege. Di Speaker then order internal verification and immediate public release of di certified documents.
Comparison of di CTCs and di gazetted Acts show say several controversial provisions currently dey enforced no appear at all for di versions passed by lawmakers. One major difference show for Section 3 of di Nigeria Tax Administration Act.
Di National Assembly version clearly give Nigeria Revenue Service power to administer major federal taxes, including petroleum income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT). However, these two key items no show for di gazetted version.
Dis omission don raise serious questions on whether di scope of federal tax authority was deliberately reduced or altered after lawmakers approval, especially as VAT and petroleum taxes be major sources of government revenue.
More differences appear for Section 29, wey deal with bank and financial institution disclosures. Di lawmakers’ version require annual returns, with reporting triggered only when transactions reach N50 million monthly for individuals and N250 million for companies. E also include safeguards, limiting di kind information wey fit be requested and insisting on formal notice.
But di gazetted Act change di reporting to quarterly, reduce thresholds to N25 million for individuals and N100 million for companies, and remove di notice-based protections. Dis expansion of reporting duties without safeguards don raise fresh concern.
Further discrepancies also show for Section 39 on currency computation. While di lawmakers’ version allow taxes, including petroleum-related ones, to be assessed and paid in di currency of transaction, di gazetted version mandate petroleum tax calculations strictly in US dollars.
Another major shock from di CTCs be Sections 41(8) and 41(9), wey no appear at all for di House-passed version of di Nigeria Tax Administration Act but dey present in di gazetted law.
As controversy grow, Federal Inland Revenue boss, Zacch Adedeji, don dismiss criticism, saying opposition to di reforms be politically motivated. Meanwhile, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) don begin mobilisation for nationwide protest.
Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) don condemn di reforms and call for mass resistance, while Conference of Nigerian Groups (CNG) accuse di Presidency of deliberate alteration of di laws.
Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) also warn say di tax reforms dey face serious resistance due to reform fatigue and lack of public trust.
As tension rise, Nigerians dey demand full explanation on how di differences enter di final laws and who approve di changes.
