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Reps Minority Caucus Demands Suspension of Tax Reforms Amid Allegations Of Fraudulent Alterations



The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind calls to suspend the implementation of the controversial tax reform laws, amid allegations that the gazetted versions were fraudulently altered after passage by the National Assembly and assent by President Bola Tinubu.

In press release issued on Sunday, December 28, 2025, the caucus expressed deep consternation over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

The laws, signed into law in June 2025 and scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, have sparked widespread debate following claims by lawmakers that the published versions differ materially from what was debated and approved.

The controversy erupted after Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki raised the issue during a recent plenary session, prompting the House to inaugurate a high-powered committee to investigate the allegations of unlawful alterations, improper gazetting, and circulation of tampered copies.

Rep. O.K. Chinda, the Minority Leader, who signed the release alongside Minority Whip Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C, PhD; Deputy Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki; and Deputy Minority Whip Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, emphasized the gravity of the situation.

“We have noted with great consternation and an overwhelming sense of disappointment the current storm brewing over the Tax Reform laws that were duly passed by the National Assembly and properly signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the release stated.

"Ordinarily, the controversy will have been dismissed as needless, but the gravity of the cause of the controversy is an issue of great concern to all Nigerians, especially since it borders on the accusations of unlawful alterations to the laws as passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly and subsequently signed by the President.”

The caucus assured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency and justice.

“We are also aware that this issue has been raised by a member of the House of Representatives during one of our recent plenaries, following which the House inaugurated a high-powered committee to investigate the allegations made by the member that the tax laws have been fraudulently altered, gazetted and the altered copy circulated to the public,” it continued.

“As such, we want to assure Nigerians that the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives will stand with the entire House to see that the circumstances surrounding this illegality is exposed and the culprits brought to book in the interest of justice for all Nigerians.”

Highlighting the role of the National Assembly as the custodian of authentic legislative records, the caucus urged the public to disregard any purported versions of the laws lacking proper authentication.

"We are aware of the legitimate procedures towards the gazetting of laws, and it starts with the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) transmitting the actual copies of the laws to the relevant federal agency that gazettes all government documents, which means, the National Assembly is always the custodian of the genuine documents of the laws of the federation that have been passed, and, therefore, we will always make sure that it is the truth that prevails in moments of controversy such as this,” the statement read.

“We therefore call on Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws being circulated without the signature of the CNA and the President and Commander in Chief, such did not originate from the National Assembly, and neither do they reflect the true character of what were actually passed by the Legislature and signed by the President,” it added.

“Any attempt to foist fake laws on Nigerians is an attack on the independence and constitutional role of the National Assembly in safeguarding our democracy, and the Caucus will unconditionally protect the independence of the Legislature and our democracy.”

The Minority Caucus demanded an immediate halt to implementation until clarity is achieved.

“Consequently, we call on the government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded and there is clarity and certainty of the law to be implemented,” the release stated.

“Moreover, Nigerians and the business community are entitled to copies of the laws that they are expected [to comply with].”

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