Nigeria’s sweeping tax reforms, hailed as a milestone in modernizing the nation’s fiscal system, are now mired in controversy after a lawmaker alleged that the official gazetted copies differ from what Parliament actually passed.
Honourable Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives, told colleagues he compared the gazetted laws with parliamentary records and found “something completely different.” His claim has unsettled lawmakers and raised questions about whether the country’s legislative process can be trusted to deliver what elected representatives approve.
The reforms, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year, were designed to simplify compliance, reduce overlapping taxes, and expand the tax net. But if the gazetted versions contain alterations, critics warn the laws could be challenged in court and declared unconstitutional.
The Speaker of the House acknowledged the complaint and promised to examine the matter, though no formal investigation has yet begun. For now, the allegations hang over Nigeria’s fiscal overhaul like a shadow, leaving businesses and citizens uncertain about which version of the law truly applies.
The controversy provokes deeper questions:
- Who is responsible for ensuring that gazetted laws faithfully reflect parliamentary votes?
- What happens if discrepancies are proven, will the reforms be rolled back, or will altered provisions stand?
- Does this episode reveal a systemic weakness in Nigeria’s legislative‑executive process, or is it an isolated breach?
- And most pressing for ordinary Nigerians: how can they comply with tax laws if they cannot be sure which text is valid?
As Nigeria seeks to strengthen revenue collection and restore public trust, the dispute underscores a larger dilemma; whether governance can withstand scrutiny when transparency itself is in doubt.
