The National Assembly has moved to address growing public concerns regarding alleged inconsistencies in recently passed tax legislation. The legislative body has promised to make certified copies of the bills signed by President Bola Tinubu available for public scrutiny.
Assembly Directs Release of Certified Documents
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Information, Mr. Bulah Bi-Allah, announced that the Assembly has directed the Clerk to release the transmitted tax bills. These documents will include the certificate pages, enabling citizens and stakeholders to verify their authenticity independently.
Bi-Allah confirmed that the Assembly's management is aware of the alleged discrepancies between its own votes and proceedings and the versions of the tax acts that were officially gazetted. The decision to release the Certified True Copies (CTCs) is a direct response to calls for greater transparency in the legislative process.
Interestingly, the statement noted that despite significant public interest in the issue, only a limited number of people have formally requested these harmonised bills. The Assembly affirmed that all such formal requests have been processed without delay.
Gazetting Process and Future Reforms
The Clerk to the National Assembly is now collaborating with the Federal Government Printing Press to ensure the duly certified and assented Acts are published in full compliance with the law. The official gazettes are expected to be ready by Thursday.
Bi-Allah clarified the division of responsibilities, explaining that while the Clerk initiates the gazetting process, the statutory duty for printing and publication rests with the federal government printing press.
To prevent future issues and strengthen institutional processes, the National Assembly will review its procedures for transmitting and gazetting bills. Key changes announced include:
- All bills for presidential assent will henceforth be routed through presidential liaison officers.
- The printing press will not entertain any request for gazetting an act of the national assembly unless it is initiated by the Clerk to the National Assembly or an authorised representative.
The Assembly expressed appreciation for public engagement, stating it values efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and professionalism in lawmaking.
Tinubu Affirms Tax Reforms Proceed as Scheduled
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, confirmed that the implementation of the new tax laws will proceed as planned. This includes laws enacted on June 26, 2025, and others scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026.
The President framed the reforms as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation" for Nigeria. He clarified that the primary intent of the new laws is not to increase the tax burden but to facilitate a structural reset, drive harmonisation of the tax system, and strengthen the social contract.
Tinubu called on all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which he described as now "firmly in the delivery stage." He asserted that no substantial issue has been identified that would warrant disrupting the reform process, adding that "absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures."
