Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has formally presented the newly enacted Nigeria Tax Reform Acts to Bola Tinubu at the President’s Lagos residence, even as the National Assembly confirms that the laws are under scrutiny following allegations that they were altered after legislative passage. The presentation, which took place in Ikoyi, comes amid growing national debate over the integrity of the final versions of the tax laws circulated to the public.
The Tax Reform Acts, which represent one of the most sweeping overhauls of Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework in decades, were designed to simplify taxation, broaden the tax base, harmonise multiple tax regimes, and strengthen revenue administration at federal and sub-national levels. The reforms are also central to the Tinubu administration’s strategy for boosting non-oil revenue, funding infrastructure, and reducing reliance on borrowing.
However, the rollout of the laws has been overshadowed by controversy. Lawmakers in the National Assembly, including members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, have raised concerns that the versions of the Tax Reform Acts published in the Official Gazette differ from those passed by the legislature. Following the allegations, the leadership of the National Assembly confirmed the issue and directed that the laws be re-gazetted, with Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by lawmakers to be issued, in order to establish clarity and preserve legislative authority.
The development has triggered widespread reactions from legal experts, opposition figures, and civil society groups, many of whom argue that any post-passage alteration of legislation would amount to a serious breach of constitutional procedure. They have called for transparency and, in some cases, for a pause in implementation until the discrepancies are fully resolved.
Despite the controversy, Oyedele and other senior government officials have maintained that preparations for implementation are on course and that the core provisions of the reforms are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. Government officials insist the reforms are aimed at reducing the tax burden on low-income earners and small businesses while ensuring improved compliance and fairness across the economy.
President Tinubu, who established the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms shortly after assuming office, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline and economic restructuring. Senior officials present at the Lagos meeting included the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, underscoring the political weight attached to the reforms.
As the Senate-ordered re-gazetting process unfolds, attention is now focused on whether the disputed sections will be clarified before full implementation begins. The controversy has elevated the tax reforms beyond fiscal policy, turning them into a test case for legislative integrity, executive accountability, and public trust in Nigeria’s law-making process.
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