The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind calls for a full investigation into alleged fraudulent alterations to the recently enacted tax reform laws, warning Nigerians to disregard any versions of the statutes circulating without proper authentication by the Clerk to the National Assembly and the President’s signature.
In a press release issued on Sunday, December 28, 2025, signed by the Minority Leader, Rep. O.K. Chinda, Minority Whip Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C., PhD, Deputy Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki, and Deputy Minority Whip Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, the caucus expressed deep consternation over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
The caucus described the allegations — that the laws were unlawfully altered after passage by both chambers and assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — as grave and deserving of urgent scrutiny.
The matter gained prominence when a member raised the issue during a recent plenary session, prompting the House to inaugurate a high-powered committee to probe the claims of fraudulent alterations, improper gazetting, and the circulation of tampered versions to the public.
“We are also aware that this issue has been raised by a member of the House of Representatives during one of our recent plenaries, following which the House inaugurated a high-powered committee to investigate the allegations,” the release stated.
“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives will stand with the entire House to ensure that the circumstances surrounding this illegality are exposed and the culprits brought to book in the interest of justice for all Nigerians.”
The caucus emphasised that the National Assembly remains the custodian of the authentic copies of all laws passed by the legislature.
It stressed that legitimate gazetting procedures begin with the Clerk to the National Assembly transmitting the official versions to the appropriate federal agency for publication.
“We are aware of the legitimate procedures towards the gazetting of laws, and it starts with the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) transmitting the actual copies of the laws to the relevant federal agency that gazettes all government documents,” the statement continued.
“The National Assembly is always the custodian of the genuine documents of the laws of the federation that have been passed.”
The Minority Caucus urged the public and businesses to reject any purported versions of the tax laws lacking the signatures of the CNA and the President, describing such documents as fake and an assault on legislative independence.
“Any attempt to foist fake laws on Nigerians is an attack on the independence and constitutional role of the National Assembly in safeguarding our democracy,” the release warned.
“The Caucus will unconditionally protect the independence of the Legislature and our democracy.”
The caucus called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend implementation of the tax reform laws until the ongoing investigations are concluded and full clarity is established on the authentic texts.
“Consequently, we call on the government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded and there is clarity and certainty of the law to be implemented,” the statement read.
“Moreover, Nigerians and the business community are entitled to copies of the laws that they are expected to obey.”
The caucus expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s democratic credentials, appealing to him to heed the call for suspension and transparency.
“We count on Mr. President’s democratic credentials to be responsive and responsible and heed to this call,” it concluded.
The release ended with a blessing for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the signatures of the four principal officers of the Minority Caucus.
