The House of Representatives has set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate alleged differences between the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and the version officially gazetted by the Federal Government. The move comes amid calls from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to postpone the January 1, 2026 commencement of the new tax regime by six months.
The committee was announced during Thursday’s plenary session, with members drawn from different states, led by Mukhtar Betara. Lawmakers will examine claims that certain provisions in the gazetted copy were altered without parliamentary approval. PDP legislators said the discrepancies could make the law legally vulnerable and called for time to ensure proper public education on the changes.
The tax reforms, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, include the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act. These laws are intended to unify revenue collection, reduce overlapping taxes, and simplify compliance for businesses and citizens at federal, state, and local levels.
The National Opposition Movement, a coalition of parties, also urged the government to suspend the implementation, warning that the new taxes could worsen the economic difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians, who are already struggling with high unemployment, inflation, and rising costs of living.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government defended the reforms as pro-poor measures designed to boost revenue without overburdening citizens. Officials cited improvements in infrastructure, including the partial reopening of Brass–Nembe Road, as evidence of the benefits of efficient revenue mobilisation. Agencies like the National Orientation Agency have been tasked with educating Nigerians about the changes, clarifying exemptions for small businesses, reduced tax rates for workers and middle-class earners, and the removal of nuisance taxes.
The committee is expected to review all documents, compare the gazetted version with the original legislation, and submit a report to the House for further action before the reforms take effect on January 1, 2026.