CSOs Back National Assembly, Dismiss Claims of Altered Tax Reform Acts
A coalition of civil society organisations operating under the banner of The Patriots has rejected allegations that the recently passed Tax Reform Acts were altered after their approval by the National Assembly, describing the claims as baseless, misleading and unsupported by evidence.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the group expressed strong support for the leadership of the National Assembly over its decision to re-gazette the Tax Acts 2025. The statement was signed by the Coordinator of The Patriots, Muhammad E. Dauda, and dated Sunday, December 28, 2025.
According to the coalition, the official Votes and Proceedings of both the Senate and the House of Representatives dated May 28, 2025, remain the final and binding records of legislative decisions on the Tax Reform Acts. It noted that these records were published on May 29, 2025, and have been publicly available since then.
The Patriots said it conducted a thorough review of the harmonised versions of the Tax Acts, alongside the Votes and Proceedings and the Conference Committee Reports, and found no material discrepancies among the documents.
Reacting to reports that multiple versions of the Acts appeared in the Official Gazette, the group explained that gazetting is a purely administrative exercise that does not have the power to amend or override laws duly passed by the legislature. It added that several court judgments have established that administrative or clerical errors in publication do not invalidate Acts of the National Assembly or alter legislative intent.
While acknowledging the seriousness of allegations bordering on post-passage alterations, the coalition stressed that the burden of proof rests squarely on those making such claims. It maintained that, until a court rules otherwise, the Tax Acts as passed by the National Assembly remain valid, lawful and enforceable.
The group also fully endorsed the decision of the National Assembly leadership to re-gazette the Acts in line with the harmonised clean copies and official parliamentary records, describing the move as lawful, appropriate and sufficient. It warned that calls for suspension, repeal or re-enactment of the laws were unnecessary and could create avoidable legal and fiscal uncertainty.
In addition, The Patriots commended the directive issued by the leadership of the National Assembly instructing the Clerk to provide Certified True Copies of the Acts to members of the public, noting that the move would promote transparency and strengthen public confidence in the legislative process.
The coalition urged Nigerians to respect parliamentary records, support the re-gazetting process and refrain from spreading narratives capable of undermining democratic institutions.
