THE National Assembly has invited members of the public to review the recently passed tax laws, following allegations that copies in circulation differ from those approved by parliament.
News Point Nigeria reports that the leadership of the 10th National Assembly directed the Clerk to produce the Votes and Proceedings of lawmakers in both chambers, alongside the gazetted versions of the tax Acts. The move comes after controversy triggered by claims of alleged alterations to the bills.
During plenary, Sokoto lawmaker Abdussamad Dasuki had alleged that the versions of the tax laws circulating publicly differed materially from those approved by the National Assembly.
In response, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, constituted an ad hoc committee chaired by Borno lawmaker Muktar Betara to investigate the claims and report back to the House for further legislative action.
In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday, the Clerk to the National Assembly, through the Director of Information, Bullah Bi-Allah, invited public input as part of efforts to resolve the controversy.
The statement read in part: “The leadership of the National Assembly has taken note of public discussions concerning alleged discrepancies between the Votes and Proceedings of the National Assembly and the gazetted versions of recently passed Tax Acts.
“In response to public calls for transparency, the leadership of the National Assembly has directed the Clerk to make available the transmitted tax bills duly signed by the President, including the certificate pages. This step will allow members of the public to independently review the documents and verify the facts.”
It added that, despite widespread public interest, only a few individuals had formally applied for Certified True Copies of the harmonized bills:
“Despite widespread public interest, only a limited number of persons have formally requested Certified True Copies of the harmonized bills, and all such requests have been processed. Interested persons may apply to the Clerk to the National Assembly, indicating the specific bills required and paying the prescribed fees.”
The statement also clarified the gazetting process, noting collaboration with the Federal Government Printing Press to meet statutory requirements:
“The Clerk is also working with the Federal Government Printing Press to publish the duly certified and assented Acts in compliance with the law. These gazettes are expected to be ready on or before January 1, 2026. While the Clerk initiates the gazetting process, the statutory responsibility for printing and publication rests with the Federal Government Printing Press.”
The National Assembly further disclosed it was reviewing internal procedures to prevent similar issues in the future:
“To strengthen institutional processes, the National Assembly is reviewing procedures for the transmission and gazetting of bills. Henceforth, all bills for presidential assent will be routed through Presidential Liaison Officers, and no request for gazetting an act of the National Assembly will be entertained by the Printing Press unless initiated by the Clerk to the National Assembly or his authorized representative.”
The statement concluded with appreciation to the public: “The National Assembly appreciates Nigerians for their interest and constructive engagement in strengthening transparency, accountability, and professionalism in the legislative process.”