The Presidency has dismissed allegations that the new tax laws were secretly altered after lawmakers approved them, insisting that such claims are misleading and based on unauthorised documents.
This clarification comes amid growing public anxiety and calls for the suspension of the tax reforms, as prominent opposition figures and civil society groups have raised questions about the integrity of the legislative process.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, on Monday, described the circulating versions of the bills as inaccurate and premature, emphasising that no officially gazetted document exists to support claims of discrepancies.
“You cannot establish a difference when there is no confirmed final document to compare against,” Oyedele said in an interview on a national television programme. “The only valid reference should be the harmonised bill certified by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President.”
Furthermore, Oyedele explained that even members of the executive branch do not have access to the legislature’s certified copy, adding that only lawmakers can confirm what was ultimately transmitted after internal harmonisation.
Also, he addressed specific concerns about a reported provision in Section 41(8) requiring taxpayers to pay a 20 per cent deposit, clarifying that the clause appeared in an early draft but was removed from the final version.
“I personally reached out to the House committee handling the bill, and their response was clear, they had not concluded deliberations on that section,” Oyedele stated.
The Presidency’s response follows allegations by House of Representatives member Abdulsamad Dasuki, who claimed that public versions of the tax laws did not match what legislators debated and approved, describing the situation as a violation of legislative authority.
Moreover, opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, along with several civil society organisations, have urged the government to suspend the reforms, scheduled to take effect on January 1.
Meanwhile, Oyedele attributed much of the confusion to premature reporting and the circulation of unofficial documents before legislative committees completed their work.
“What people are reacting to did not originate from the committee officially mandated by the House,” he added. “It is important to allow lawmakers conclude their internal review before drawing conclusions.”
The Presidency has called on the public to trust verified legislative processes and to channel any genuine concerns through appropriate institutional mechanisms rather than speculation.
