The leadership of the National Assembly, under the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the Tax Reform Acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly.
This follows the recent public outburst over an alleged alteration to the original versions of the acts duly passed by the National Assembly: the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
House Spokesman / Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who disclosed the position of the National Assembly in a statement on Friday, affirmed that the decision to re-gazette the Tax Reforms Acts was taken in the interest of clarity, accuracy, and the integrity of the legislative record.
He said: “The House of Representatives wishes to assure the public that these matters are being addressed strictly within the constitutional and statutory remit of the National Assembly.
“Only last week, the House constituted a seven-man Ad Hoc Committee on the matter after an Honourable Member raised it under a Point of Order (Privileges). The Ad Hoc Committee, alongside other relevant Committees of the National Assembly, working in collaboration with the Management of the National Assembly, is undertaking an institutional review to establish the sequence of events and to identify any factors that may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding the legislative and administrative handling of the Acts.
“This includes a careful examination of any lapses, irregularities, or external interferences, should any be established. The review is being conducted in full conformity with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Acts Authentication Act, Cap. A4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the Standing Orders of both Chambers, and established parliamentary practice.
“In the course of this review, and in the interest of clarity, accuracy, and the integrity of the legislative record, the leadership of the National Assembly, under the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the Acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly.
“This administrative step is intended solely to authenticate and accurately reflect the legislative decisions of the National Assembly.”
Rotimi added: “This review is strictly confined to institutional processes and procedures. It does not constitute, imply, or concede any defect in the exercise of legislative authority by the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is undertaken without prejudice to the powers, functions, or actions of any other arm or agency of government, and without prejudice to any rights, obligations, or legal processes arising under the Constitution or any other applicable law.”
He explained that the House of Representatives, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, remains firmly committed to the principles of constitutionalism, separation of powers, due process, and the supremacy of the rule of law. Noting that where procedural or administrative refinements are identified, appropriate corrective measures would be taken in accordance with the law and established parliamentary conventions.
He therefore urged the members of the public to allow the National Assembly’s institutional processes to proceed without speculation or conjecture. Emphasising that the leadership of the House of Representatives remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the faithful discharge of its constitutional responsibility as custodian of the legislative authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
