The National Assembly of Nigeria has announced that it will make copies of the contentious tax bills available for public review, following allegations of discrepancies between the voted and gazetted versions of the recently passed Tax Acts. In a statement, the Director for Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, explained that the move is in response to public calls for transparency and to allow members of the public to independently review the documents and verify the facts.
The tax bills in question were signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025, and are set to take effect on January 1, 2026. However, there have been claims that certain provisions were smuggled into the bills, making the signed laws different from the ones passed by the National Assembly. The Assembly has stated that despite widespread public interest, only a limited number of persons have formally requested Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the harmonized bills, and all such requests have been processed.
To address the concerns, the National Assembly has directed the Clerk to make available the transmitted Tax Bills, including the certificate pages, for public review. Interested persons can apply to the Clerk to obtain copies of the specific bills required, upon payment of the prescribed fees. The Clerk is also working with the Federal Government Printing Press to publish the duly certified and assented Acts in compliance with the law, with the gazettes expected to be ready by January 1, 2026.
In addition, the National Assembly is reviewing its procedures for the transmission and gazetting of bills to strengthen institutional processes. Henceforth, all bills for presidential assent will be routed through Presidential Liaison Officers, and requests for gazetting an Act of the National Assembly will only be entertained by the printing press if initiated by the Clerk or their authorized representative.
The controversy surrounding the tax laws has led to calls for their suspension until the issues are fully addressed. However, President Tinubu has stated that the implementation of the new tax laws will proceed as planned, as they represent a critical opportunity to build a fair and competitive fiscal foundation for the country. The National Assembly has appreciated the public’s interest and constructive engagement in strengthening transparency and accountability in the legislative process.
