The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has described the interim report by the Minority Caucus Ad-hoc Committee on alleged alterations in Nigeria’s Tax Reform Acts as overtaken by events, saying the issues raised were resolved with the release of authentic versions of the laws.
Agbese spoke to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The Minority Caucus report, released on January 23, claimed that discrepancies existed between the versions of the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and those subsequently published in the official gazette.
The committee, constituted to probe the matter, asserted that alleged alterations were particularly evident in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025 and that multiple versions of the legislation were circulating.
However, Agbese said in his response that the leadership of the National Assembly, under Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen and in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, had already addressed concerns by ensuring the public release of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the four Tax Reform Acts as passed by parliament and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
According to Agbese, the release of the CTCs has provided clarity about the content of the laws and resolved questions over which versions are authentic.
He said the Speaker also ordered an internal verification process to ensure that only the correct and duly passed versions remain in circulation, reinforcing confidence in the legislative process.
“The concerns raised regarding discrepancies in the tax laws have already been comprehensively addressed by the House leadership,” Agbese said, adding that the corrective measures had restored public confidence and reaffirmed the independence and authority of the legislature.
Agbese acknowledged that lawmakers have the right to raise accountability questions but maintained that the actions taken by the House leadership made further controversy unnecessary. He said the release of the CTCs had settled the matter and ensured that Nigerians rely on the correct and lawful versions of the Tax Reform Acts.
The Tax Reform Acts in question include the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025.
Agbese said the House would continue to work with the Senate and relevant institutions to strengthen legislative processes and prevent similar controversies in the future.
