The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has raised serious concerns over alleged illegal alterations in recently gazetted tax laws, following discrepancies identified between versions passed by the National Assembly and those published in official records.
The controversy began after a member of the House, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, alerted lawmakers to the circulation of an authorized version of the tax laws that differed from what was duly passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President. Reacting to public outrage, the Minority Caucus, in a statement issued on December 28, 2025, vowed to protect the independence of the legislature, describing any attempt to impose altered laws on Nigerians as an attack on democracy and the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly.
In response, the Minority Caucus, led by Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda, constituted a seven-member fact-finding committee on January 2, 2026. The committee is chaired by Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, with members drawn from Bauchi, Oyo, Abia, Bayelsa, Kano, and Nasarawa states.
On January 3, 2026, the House of Representatives announced that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, had ordered the public release of four tax reform Acts duly signed into law by the President. The directive also included an internal verification process and the immediate release of Certified True Copies to restore clarity and safeguard the integrity of the legislature. The Acts released were the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025.
According to the committee, contentious areas in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act include changes to reporting thresholds, the introduction of a mandatory 20 percent deposit for tax appeals, expanded enforcement and arrest powers for tax authorities, alterations to the definition of federal taxes, and changes to the currency used for tax computation in petroleum operations. These provisions, the committee noted, were not part of the versions passed by the National Assembly.
Similarly, discrepancies were identified in the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, particularly the removal of provisions granting the National Assembly oversight powers, including the requirement for quarterly and annual reports to parliament. The committee described this omission as a violation of the principles of checks and balances fundamental to democratic governance.
In view of the anomalies and alleged illegalities uncovered, the committee stated that there is sufficient basis for a more comprehensive investigation. It has therefore requested additional time to conduct an in-depth examination to ensure accountability and protect the constitutional role of the legislature.
The interim report was signed by the committee chairman, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene.
