Altered Gazetted Tax Law Tears House Apart As It Declares Minority

Altered Gazetted Tax Law Tears House Apart as It Declares Minority Caucus Tax Committee Lacks Authority
Headline: The House of Representatives of Nigeria has formally rejected the interim report of an ad-hoc committee set up by its Minority Caucus to examine alleged alterations in recently gazetted tax laws, declaring the committee informal, procedurally improper and without parliamentary authority.
The Minority Caucus of the House comprising opposition lawmakers established an ad-hoc committee on January 2, 2026 to investigate discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions published in the official gazette.

• That interim report alleged that portions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025 and other tax-related acts had been altered after passage, with multiple copies circulating.
  House spokesman Akin Rotimi said political caucuses whether majority or minority do not have the power to establish committees with official parliamentary status. Only the House in plenary or the Speaker can do so under the Standing Orders (Eleventh Edition).
• Rotimi explained that caucuses may consult, coordinate or advocate policy among members, but they lack investigative authority, oversight jurisdiction, and powers to summon witnesses or demand official records.
• As a result, any committee constituted outside the formal process “lacks institutional recognition,” and its interim or final report cannot be laid before the House, received as a parliamentary document, or form part of the official legislative record.
  The House described the Minority Caucus action as procedurally improper, inconsistent with parliamentary norms, and capable of creating unnecessary public confusion, especially since the alleged issue has been addressed through established legislative avenues. In December 2025, following concerns raised on the floor, the House duly established a bipartisan ad hoc committee including members from both ruling and opposition parties to examine any alleged discrepancies in the tax laws.
• That committee was constitutionally and procedurally authorised and remains in operation, with its final report to be laid before the House in plenary once concluded.
  Acting jointly with the Senate, the National Assembly published the official gazette of the tax laws and issued Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the enacted legislation, thereby concluding the legislative process and giving the laws full legal effect.
• The House has also debunked unofficial documents in circulation and reaffirmed that only gazetted versions and CTCs constitute authentic legislative instruments.
  Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, chairman of the minority caucus ad-hoc committee, defended the interim findings, saying the report highlighted potentially serious attempts to undermine the National Assembly’s authority and deserved attention beyond political debate.
• Ogene argued that the alleged illegal alterations raised legitimate constitutional concerns, and insisted lawmakers should prioritise the integrity of law-making.