The House of Representatives has described the interim report by its Minority Caucus on alleged alterations in the Tax Reform Acts as “overtaken by events”, following the public release of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the four tax reform laws signed into law, the chamber’s deputy spokesperson said on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja, Hon. Philip Agbese said that concerns raised by the Minority Caucus Ad-hoc Committee had been addressed by proactive steps taken by the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly.
The release of authenticated versions of the tax law texts, he said, had clarified discrepancies and restored confidence in the legislative process.
The controversy erupted after the Minority Caucus raised concerns that the versions of the tax reform laws published in the official gazette differed from those passed by the legislature and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
A preliminary committee report suggested that alterations had been made, particularly to the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, and that at least three different versions were circulating publicly.
In response to public attention and intra-legislative debate, the Clerk to the National Assembly released Certified True Copies of all four enacted tax reform Acts to ensure transparency and allow independent verification of the authentic texts.
Agbese said the House leadership, working with Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, had taken decisive action to make the authentic versions of the Acts publicly available, effectively resolving the perceived discrepancies.
“The concerns raised regarding discrepancies in the tax laws have already been comprehensively addressed by the House leadership,” he said.
He explained that the Speaker also directed an internal verification process to ensure only the official, duly passed versions remain in circulation.
According to Agbese, this move demonstrated the legislature’s commitment to transparency, due process and protection of democratic institutions.
Agbese emphasised that while lawmakers have the right to raise accountability concerns, the corrective measures already implemented had made further public controversy unnecessary.
He asserted that the release of the certified laws ensured Nigerians could rely on the correct legal texts.
The dispute highlighted broader debates about legislative authority, lawmaking integrity and procedural safeguards.
By releasing authenticated versions of the laws, the House leadership sought to reaffirm the independence of the legislature and guard against any perception that its constitutional role had been undermined.
The deputy spokesperson said the House of Representatives would continue to work with the Senate and relevant institutions to strengthen legislative processes and prevent a recurrence of similar issues.
He said strengthened verification and transparency mechanisms are key to safeguarding public trust and the integrity of lawmaking in Nigeria.
