Concerns have intensified over the integrity of recently gazetted tax laws, as more members of the National Assembly raise objections to alleged discrepancies between the versions passed by lawmakers and those later assented to and published.
The controversy resurfaced on Wednesday when a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), raised a matter of privilege on the floor of the House, alleging that the gazetted tax laws differed materially from what legislators debated and approved. Dasuki, citing Order Six, Rule Two of the House Rules, argued that his legislative privilege had been breached, insisting that the published laws did not reflect the resolutions of Parliament.
Adding their voices to the growing concern, Hon. Muhammad Bello Fagge (Fagge Federal Constituency, Kano) and Hon. Yusuf Shitu Galambi (Gwaram Federal Constituency, Jigawa) warned that any alteration of duly passed laws could undermine constitutional governance and further erode public trust in government.
Speaking on BBC Hausa’s Ra’ayi Riga programme, Fagge recalled that opposition lawmakers had initially objected to the tax bills, prompting extensive nationwide consultations before their passage.
“We in the opposition raised concerns at the beginning because of fears that provisions could be introduced without adequate scrutiny. That led the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to set up a committee that consulted widely with traditional rulers, governors and other stakeholders across the country. After those engagements, the bills were harmonised and approved,” Fagge said.
According to him, the controversy emerged when the laws were eventually gazetted.
“What was gazetted is different from what we approved. That means what was signed is not exactly what the National Assembly passed,” he said.
Fagge pointed to alleged discrepancies in the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, particularly Sections 25, 26 and 30, as well as in the Joint Revenue Board Act, citing Sections 9, 14, 30, 40 and 44.
“Even if it is just one section that differs, it is a serious problem,” he added.
He further warned that some provisions appeared to shift powers from the legislature and the judiciary to the Executive, particularly the Nigeria Revenue Service, describing the development as a threat to the principle of checks and balances.
“This is not about party politics. It is about saving Nigeria and protecting constitutional order,” Fagge said.
Also speaking on the programme, Galambi described the allegations as disturbing, though yet to be proven, and confirmed that the House had constituted a committee to investigate the matter. He urged the Federal Government to suspend implementation of the tax laws, scheduled to commence in January 2026, pending the outcome of the probe.
“If alterations are confirmed, the laws should be returned to the National Assembly for correction. If not, then implementation can proceed,” he said.
Galambi also raised concerns over reports that enforcement powers may have been granted to the Nigeria Revenue Service without the requirement of court orders, contrary to what lawmakers approved.
“If the court order requirement has been removed, it could create serious tension in the country,” he warned.
The lawmakers disclosed that the seven-man ad-hoc committee set up by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has four weeks to review the allegations and submit its recommendations.
Meanwhile, experts have cautioned against any form of executive interference in the legislative process. An economic analyst, Prof. Muttaqa Usman, noted that taxation should not only focus on revenue generation but also on economic growth and public welfare.
“Public mistrust arises when what is promised differs from what is implemented,” he said.
Similarly, a law professor, Auwalu H. Yadudu, described the alleged alterations as a serious threat to constitutional governance, suggesting that changes to duly passed laws without legislative approval would amount to executive overreach.
Despite the backlash, the Federal Government has defended the new tax laws, insisting they are designed to enhance fiscal equity, protect taxpayers’ rights and promote economic growth.
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said several existing taxes had been repealed, suspended or reversed to ease the burden on citizens.
President Bola Tinubu, while signing the bills into law, maintained that the reforms would provide long-term benefits for Nigerians and future generations.
