Nigeria’s tax reforms are now in treacherous waters, following an investigation launched by the House of Representatives on Thursday into supposed amendments of the tax laws passed and signed by President Bola Tinubu.
This followed claims by a PDP lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, that the versions of the tax reforms approved by the National Assembly differ from the copies later gazetted by the Federal Government, an allegation that, if proven, could undermine the laws’ constitutional validity.
In reaction, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, reportedly named an ad hoc committee consisting of seven members that would examine these irregularities, reflecting increased concern among lawmakers about perceived encroachment by the executive arm.
The Peoples Democratic Party took advantage of this development to call for a further six-month extension of the implementation deadline of January 1, 2026, on grounds that unenacted provisions should not undermine public trust and parliamentary authority.
This crisis has further heightened the opposition pressure. An alliance, known as the National Opposition Movement, demanded that the implementation of the reforms be suspended immediately, as they would further make life difficult for Nigerians in the wake of inflation and unemployment woes.
The Federal Government has moved to counter this by stating that the proposed changes are pro-masses and will ensure ease of revenue mobilization.
With parliament now questioning the integrity of the gazetted laws, the battle over tax reform has shifted from policy to power, setting up a constitutional test for the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2026 rollout.
