The National Assembly has announced plans to release certified true copies (CTCs) of the tax reform bills passed in December, following growing concerns over discrepancies between the approved versions and the versions published in the Federal Government’s official gazette.
The move comes amid rising opposition to the implementation of new tax laws, scheduled to begin in January. Critics, including civil society groups, opposition lawmakers, and economic analysts, have questioned the authenticity of the gazetted versions, claiming they differ from what the legislature approved.
Chairmen of both the Senate and House Committees on Finance, Senators Sani Musa and James Faleke, confirmed that the CTCs will be made public to address the confusion and restore public trust.
“We are aware of the concerns raised by stakeholders. The CTCs will clarify what was passed and ensure transparency,” Musa stated.
Last week, the controversy deepened after some lawyers and policy experts accused the presidency of altering provisions in the gazetted documents without legislative approval. In response, the presidency denied any wrongdoing and insisted that the gazette followed due process.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele, has also expressed concern and called for transparency. Oyedele urged authorities to align the gazetted version with the bills passed by the National Assembly.
The expected release of the certified versions is seen as a step toward resolving the ongoing dispute and ensuring smoother implementation of the government’s tax reform agenda in 2026.
