The House of Representatives has released the certified true copies (CTCs) of four major tax reform Acts recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, amid public concerns over alleged discrepancies and the circulation of unauthorised versions of the laws.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi. He said the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, ordered the immediate release of the certified documents, including the endorsement and assent pages signed by the president, to allow for public verification and reference.
According to Rotimi, the decision was taken in consultation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio following claims that some versions of the tax laws in circulation differed from those passed by the National Assembly and signed into law.
The controversy was first raised on the floor of the House by Abdulsamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who alerted lawmakers to alleged inconsistencies between the tax Bills approved by parliament and the versions later gazetted by the executive. Dasuki warned that such discrepancies could erode legislative credibility and public trust if not promptly addressed.
His concerns sparked widespread debate both within and outside the National Assembly, with legal experts, tax practitioners, and civil society groups calling for clarification and, in some cases, a suspension of the implementation of the Acts.
In response, Speaker Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate the matter. The committee is chaired by Aliyu Betara and includes Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi, and Babajimi Benson. It was tasked with probing the alleged alterations, determining how unauthorised versions emerged, and recommending measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Speaker also directed an internal verification of the Acts and approved the public release of the certified versions to dispel doubts, restore confidence, and safeguard the integrity of the legislative process.
The four laws released are the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025. The House described them as the foundation of Nigeria’s modern tax reform framework, designed to improve revenue administration, boost compliance, reduce inefficiencies, eliminate duplication, and enhance fiscal coordination across the federation.
Rotimi said Speaker Abbas provided firm leadership throughout the tax reform process, from stakeholder engagements and committee reviews to clause-by-clause consideration and extensive plenary debates, ensuring the laws were inclusive and aligned with Nigeria’s fiscal realities.
Reassuring Nigerians, Rotimi stated that the National Assembly operates on strict records, procedures, and institutional memory, stressing that once a Bill is passed and assented to, its authenticity is preserved through certification and legislative custody.
He emphasised that the certified copies released by the National Assembly remain the only valid and authoritative versions of the tax laws, urging the public to disregard any other documents in circulation.
“Members of the public, institutions, professionals, and stakeholders are therefore advised to disregard and discountenance any other documents or versions not certified by the National Assembly, as such materials do not form part of the official legislative record,” the statement added.
