The National Assembly has moved to allay public concern over alleged discrepancies between its recorded proceedings and the versions of newly gazetted tax reform acts. In a statement on Thursday, the Assembly announced that certified copies of the harmonised bills, signed by President Bola Tinubu, will be made available for independent scrutiny.
Nigerian tax reforms under public scrutiny
The Director of Information, Mr Bullah Bi-Allah, said the Clerk has been directed to release the transmitted bills with certificate pages so that stakeholders and members of the public can verify the documents. He acknowledged reports that suggested differences between the Assembly’s votes and proceedings and the published gazetted texts, and described the document release as a direct response to calls for greater transparency.
Bi-Allah added that, despite significant public interest, only a limited number of formal requests for Certified True Copies of the harmonised bills had been received and that all such applications had already been processed. He said the Clerk is collaborating with the Federal Government Printing Press to produce the officially certified and assented Acts, which are expected to be available today.
How the process will change for future bills
To strengthen procedural robustness, the National Assembly will review its bill transmission protocols. Under the new arrangements, all bills destined for presidential assent will be routed through presidential liaison officers and gazetting requests will be accepted only when initiated by the Clerk or an authorised representative. The Assembly described these steps as measures to reduce the risk of administrative error and to ensure the integrity of the record.
The statement clarified roles in the publication process, noting that while the Clerk initiates the gazetting process, the statutory responsibility for printing and publication rests with the Federal Government Printing Press. This distinction, the Assembly said, explains the current collaboration to ensure the final assented Acts are correctly reproduced and certified.
Implementation timeline and government position
President Tinubu, in a personally signed statement earlier in the week, reaffirmed that the new tax laws will be implemented as scheduled. According to the President, some measures enacted on 26 June 2025 have already taken effect, while others will commence on 1 January 2026. He characterised the reforms as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a fair and competitive fiscal framework and asked stakeholders to support the implementation phase.
Officials emphasised that the objective of the reforms is to harmonise systems and strengthen the social contract without imposing unwarranted tax increases. The Assembly said it values public engagement and sees the release of certified documents as consistent with its commitment to accountability and open government.
Legal and business communities, as well as tax professionals, will be watching the publication of the certified Acts closely. Availability of the authenticated documents will allow independent verification of the text that is being enforced and will help resolve any outstanding questions about discrepancies with the gazetted copies.
With the publication of certified copies and the introduction of tighter transmission protocols, the National Assembly aims to reassure citizens and investors that the legislative process for the tax reforms is transparent and procedurally sound.
Key Takeaways:
- National Assembly to publish certified copies of harmonised tax bills for independent verification.
- Clerk and Federal Government Printing Press to produce officially assented Acts, aiding the roll-out of the Nigerian tax reforms.
- Implementation dates set: some laws commenced 26 June 2025, others take effect 1 January 2026.
- New transmission protocols will route bills through presidential liaison officers to strengthen transparency.
