Abuja, December 18, 2025 – In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s legislative corridors, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged significant discrepancies between the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions officially gazetted for public use.
Dasuki raised the issue during a plenary session on December 17, 2025, citing a breach of his legislative privileges, the Constitution, and established parliamentary procedures. He claimed that after personally reviewing the gazetted copies—purchased from the Ministry of Information—alongside the House’s Votes and Proceedings, the Senate’s Votes and Proceedings, and the harmonized versions adopted by both chambers, he discovered inconsistencies “I was here, I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I am seeing something completely different,” Dasuki stated on the floor, emphasizing that the gazetted documents do not reflect what lawmakers debated, harmonized, and approved.
The four tax reform bills in question—the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, and Joint Revenue Board of Appeal (Establishment) Act 2025—were introduced amid efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s fiscal system, simplify taxation, reduce burdens on individuals and businesses, and promote ease of administration.
The House passed the bills in February or March 2025 following public hearings and clause-by-clause reviews, with the Senate approving them in May. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed them into law on June 26, 2025, after initial opposition from northern governors over concerns about regional economic impacts and VAT-sharing formulas. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum eventually endorsed the reforms following agreements on equitable distribution.
Dasuki described the situation as a “serious breach” that undermines the integrity of the legislative process, warning that circulating altered laws could erode public trust in governance.
He urged the House to scrutinize all relevant documents in a Committee of the Whole and make necessary amendments to ensure transparency.Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas acknowledged the gravity of the concern and assured lawmakers that appropriate action would be taken in line with House rules.
Investigation Findings: Clarion Newschannel’s probe confirms Dasuki’s allegations as reported across multiple credible sources, though specific details on the nature of the discrepancies—such as altered clauses, omissions, or additions—have not been publicly disclosed in available reports. The lawmaker spent three days comparing documents, but no itemized differences were outlined during the plenary or in subsequent coverage.
This suggests the variances may involve substantive changes to provisions debated in the Assembly, potentially affecting taxation rules, revenue collection, or administrative frameworks.
Supporting documents include:
Gazetted versions: Available from the Federal Ministry of Information or official repositories. Key PDFs of the laws as gazetted:
Nigeria Tax Act 2025: https://tat.gov.ng/Nigeria-Tax-Act-2025.pdf84db99
Nigeria Revenue Service Act 2025: https://irs.gm.gov.ng/docs/national/NIGERIA_REVENUE_SERVICE_ACT_2025.pdf109414
Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025: https://tat.gov.ng/NIGERIA-TAX-ADMINISTRATION-ACT-2025.
Votes and Proceedings: These can be accessed via the National Assembly’s official website (https://nass.gov.ng/) or archives for the relevant dates in February/March and May 2025, though direct PDFs for the tax bill sessions were not located in our search. The harmonized bills as passed would be detailed therein.
The matter has sparked calls for a thorough probe, with some analysts speculating it could lead to amendments or legal challenges if discrepancies are verified. Clarion Newschannel will continue monitoring developments as the House addresses this potential constitutional crisis.
Lawmaker Sounds Alarm: Gazetted Tax Laws Tamperred? Discrepancies Alleged in Nigeria’s 2025 Reforms
