The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to widely publish certified true copies of the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the tax laws subsequently signed into law.

 

In a letter to the President, dated December 20, 2025, SERAP expressed concern over allegations of discrepancies between the tax bills approved by lawmakers and the versions of the laws eventually gazetted by the Federal Government. The organization is seeking clarity on whether the versions of the tax bills received from the National Assembly are identical to those signed into law.

 

The documents in question include the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Nigeria Tax Act. SERAP has requested that these documents be published to allow the public to scrutinize the final versions of the laws.

 

The organization also called for the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry to investigate claims that material changes were made to the tax laws after they were passed by the legislature. SERAP proposed that the panel be chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, and that its findings be made public. If alterations to the laws are confirmed, the group emphasized that those responsible should face prosecution.

 

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“Publishing certified copies of both the tax bills received from the National Assembly and the final tax laws would enable Nigerians to compare the versions and determine whether any unlawful alterations were made,” said SERAP in its letter.

 

The group further stressed that such alterations would violate the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), international human rights law, and the core principles of the rule of law and separation of powers.

 

SERAP also set a deadline for the publication of these documents, requesting that the measures be taken within seven days of receiving or publishing the letter. The organization warned that, should the government fail to act, it would pursue legal action to compel compliance.

 

The call for action follows a point of privilege raised in the House of Representatives on December 17 by Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who highlighted concerns over discrepancies between the harmonized tax bills passed by lawmakers and the versions gazetted by the Federal Government.

 

Source: Punch