ABUJA: The Presidency has rejected allegations that provisions of the newly signed tax reform laws were altered after their passage by the National Assembly, insisting that the legislation followed due process and will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026.
The denial comes amid growing calls by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, opposition parties and civil society groups for the suspension of the laws over alleged discrepancies between the versions passed by lawmakers and those later gazetted.
President Bola Tinubu recently signed four tax reform bills into law, marking what the Federal Government described as the most comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
The laws include the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, all consolidated under the Nigeria Revenue Service.
According to the government, the reforms aim to simplify tax compliance, eliminate multiple taxation, expand the tax base and modernise revenue collection across all tiers of government.
Controversy erupted after Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State, alleged that the gazetted versions of the laws contained provisions not debated or approved by the National Assembly.
He warned that such alterations could expose the laws to legal challenges.
Following the allegation, the House of Representatives set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed the claims, describing them as unsubstantiated and politically motivated. He maintained that the laws were validly passed and signed and that implementation would proceed as planned.
Ajayi said opposition criticism would not derail the reforms, adding that relevant agencies had been preparing for implementation for months. He also urged the public to await the outcome of the House committee’s investigation.
Similarly, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ruled out suspending the laws, noting that some aspects were already being implemented.
On the other hand, Atiku called for an immediate halt to implementation pending a full investigation, describing the alleged alterations as criminal and dangerous to democratic governance.
Obi also raised concerns, warning that introducing coercive enforcement powers without legislative approval threatened constitutional order and public trust.
Opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress, and advocacy groups such as the Take-It-Back Movement, have also condemned the reforms, describing them as anti-people and calling for transparency and accountability.
Despite the backlash, the Presidency insists the tax reforms will be fully implemented from January 1, 2026.
