National Assembly Breaks Silence on New Tax Laws, Orders Release of Bills Signed by President Tinubu

The leadership of Nigeria’s National Assembly has taken steps to address growing public controversy surrounding recently enacted tax laws, following allegations of discrepancies between legislative records and the officially gazetted versions of the Acts. In response, the legislature has ordered the immediate release of the Tax Bills transmitted to and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In an official statement issued on Thursday, the National Assembly explained that the decision was driven by heightened public scrutiny and widespread calls for transparency regarding the new tax legislation. The move is aimed at strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s fiscal and legislative processes amid ongoing debates on tax reforms and economic policy.

The statement disclosed that the Clerk to the National Assembly has been directed to make available copies of the transmitted Tax Bills, including the certificate pages showing presidential assent. This will allow citizens, legal practitioners, tax professionals, and corporate stakeholders to independently verify the authenticity and content of the enacted laws.

According to the legislature, although public interest in the tax reforms has been significant, only a limited number of individuals and organizations have formally requested Certified True Copies of the harmonized Bills. All applications received so far have been fully processed, while other interested parties were advised to apply directly to the Office of the Clerk, clearly stating the specific Bills required and paying the applicable statutory fees.

The National Assembly further clarified that the Clerk is currently working in collaboration with the Federal Government Printing Press to ensure the official publication of the duly certified and assented Tax Acts, in line with constitutional and statutory requirements. The gazetted versions of the new tax laws are expected to be available on or before January 1, 2026.

While emphasizing procedural clarity, the legislature noted that although the Clerk initiates the gazetting process, the responsibility for printing and final publication of Acts rests exclusively with the Federal Government Printing Press. This distinction, it said, is crucial to understanding the administrative flow of Nigeria’s law-making and documentation process.

To prevent future controversies surrounding the transmission and publication of legislation, the leadership of the National Assembly announced a review of its internal procedures. Going forward, all Bills forwarded for presidential assent will be transmitted through designated Presidential Liaison Officers to ensure proper documentation and accountability.

In addition, the National Assembly stated that no request for the gazetting of any Act will be accepted by the Federal Government Printing Press unless it is formally initiated by the Clerk to the National Assembly or an authorized representative. This measure is intended to tighten controls and improve transparency in the management of legislative documents.

The legislature commended Nigerians for their sustained interest in governance and public finance matters, describing civic engagement as essential to promoting transparency, accountability, and professionalism in Nigeria’s legislative and tax administration framework.