The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said he is unaware of an alleged discrepancy in versions of Nigeria’s newly enacted tax reform laws from what were passed by the National Assembly.
Speaking at the ministry’s end-of-the-year press briefing in Abuja, the minister responded to questions from journalists on which version of the tax laws would be implemented from 2026, given reported disagreements within the legislature.
“To be honest with you, I have not seen the two versions. All I know is that the Executive presented a tax document to the National Assembly, it was processed, passed, returned to the Executive and signed into law,” Idris said.
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He explained that reports of discrepancies were currently being handled by the legislature, noting that the National Assembly had constituted a committee to review the concerns raised by some lawmakers.
“What I heard is that the National Assembly members have identified some discrepancies and have set up a committee to look into them. At this point, this is an affair of the National Assembly. I have no jurisdiction or authority to speak on it. We should wait for their findings,” the minister stated.
Idris maintained that, from the perspective of the Federal Government, there is only one tax document.
He added that if the legislature establishes the existence of discrepancies and seeks clarification, the Executive would respond accordingly.
THE WHISTLER reported that concerns over the tax laws intensified after lawmakers alleged that the versions gazetted and released to the public did not reflect what was debated and approved on the floor of the National Assembly.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), had raised a matter of privilege, claiming that his legislative rights were breached by the alleged alterations. He insisted that the laws signed and gazetted differed from what lawmakers voted on.
The issue gained further attention following comments by Hon. Muhammad Bello Fagge (Fagge Federal Constituency, Kano) and Hon. Yusuf Shitu Galambi (Gwaram Federal Constituency, Jigawa) during a BBC Hausa programme, Ra’ayi Riga.
Both lawmakers warned that any proven alteration could undermine constitutional order and erode public trust.
Fagge recalled that the opposition initially resisted the tax bills, prompting extensive nationwide consultations led by a committee set up by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
According to him, the bills were harmonised and approved only after engagement with traditional rulers, governors and other stakeholders.
“However, when the laws were later gazetted, what appeared was different from what we approved in Parliament,” Fagge said, citing alleged discrepancies in sections of the Nigeria Revenue Service Act and the Joint Revenue Board Act.
He warned that some provisions appeared to shift oversight powers from the legislature and judiciary to the Executive, stressing that the issue transcends party politics. “This is about saving Nigeria,” he said.
Galambi described the allegations as disturbing, though yet to be proven, and urged the Federal Government to suspend implementation of the laws, scheduled for January 1, 2026, pending the outcome of the National Assembly’s investigation.
“If alterations are found, the law should be corrected to reflect what was passed. If nothing is found, then implementation can proceed,” he said, also raising concerns about alleged enforcement powers granted to the Nigeria Revenue Service without court orders.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives has since set up a seven-man ad-hoc committee, with a four-week mandate, to investigate the claims.
Legal and economic experts have also weighed in on the controversy. Economic analyst, Prof. Muttaqa Usman, said public mistrust often arises when policies implemented differ from what was promised or approved, noting that taxation should prioritise economic growth and citizens’ welfare.
Despite the backlash, the Federal Government has defended the tax reforms, insisting they are aimed at promoting fiscal equity, protecting taxpayers’ rights and simplifying compliance.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said several existing taxes had been repealed, reversed or suspended, countering claims that the reforms impose new burdens on citizens. He added that the reforms are designed to stimulate growth without fuelling inflation.
President Bola Tinubu, while signing the four tax reform bills into law, described them as a significant overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system, promising long-term benefits for current and future generations.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside civil society groups, have called for the suspension of the laws’ implementation until the allegations are fully resolved.
The Presidency has dismissed claims of secret alterations, maintaining that all processes followed constitutional and legislative procedures.
However, the tax reform laws, including the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, are expected to take effect in 2026, subject to the outcome of the ongoing legislative review.