NASS orders release of certified copies of Tax Reform Acts

The National Assembly has directed that Certified True Copies of the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts be made available to stakeholders and the public on request.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Senate’s Director of Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, who also confirmed that parliament has opened an internal review into allegations that parts of the tax laws may have been altered after lawmakers passed them and the President signed them.

The laws in question include the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

According to the statement, concerns arose over the harmonisation of the bills passed by both chambers, the versions assented to by the President, and the texts later printed in the Official Gazette.

The National Assembly leadership said it is handling the matter strictly within its constitutional responsibilities, noting that relevant committees have begun an internal review to clarify the issues.

As part of the process, the Clerk to the National Assembly has been directed to work with appropriate agencies to publish the Acts in the Official Gazette and issue certified copies to anyone who requests them, in order to ensure clarity and preserve the integrity of legislative records.

Parliament stressed that the move is an administrative step aimed at authenticating decisions already taken — not a suggestion that lawmakers acted improperly or that the authority of any arm of government is being challenged.

The statement added that the review is guided by the Constitution, the Acts Authentication Act, parliamentary rules and established practice, and pledged that any procedural lapses identified would be corrected in line with the law.

The leadership urged the public to allow the process to run its course, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, due process and separation of powers.

The development follows calls earlier in the week from former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend implementation of the tax reforms, due to take effect in January, pending clarification of the controversy.

His position echoed concerns raised by opposition figures, civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association, whose President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, warned that the matter touches on the credibility of the law-making process and called for an open investigation.

Tensions rose further after a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged that the gazetted versions differ from the final copies passed by the National Assembly and sent to the President for assent.