The leadership of the 10th National Assembly has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to release the Votes and Proceedings of lawmakers in both chambers, as well as the gazetted versions of the recently passed Tax Acts, following allegations of discrepancies in the documents.
The move comes after claims that the tax reform bills signed into law differed from those passed by the parliament. A lawmaker representing Sokoto, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised the issue during plenary, alleging that copies of the tax laws circulating in the public domain contained material differences from those approved by the National Assembly.
In response, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations. The committee is chaired by a lawmaker from Borno State, Muktar Betara, and is expected to report its findings to the House for further legislative action.
In a statement issued late Wednesday by the Director of Information, Bullah Bi-Allah, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, the legislature said it was inviting public input as part of efforts to address the controversy.
The statement noted that the leadership of the National Assembly was aware of public discussions surrounding alleged discrepancies between the Votes and Proceedings and the gazetted versions of the Tax Acts. It said the Clerk had been directed to make available the transmitted tax bills signed by the President, including the certificate pages, to allow members of the public independently review the documents.
According to the statement, despite the heightened public interest, only a small number of individuals had formally applied for Certified True Copies of the harmonised bills, adding that all such requests had been processed. It advised interested members of the public to apply to the Clerk’s office, specifying the bills required and paying the prescribed fees.
On the gazetting process, the National Assembly said the Clerk was working with the Federal Government Printing Press to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. It disclosed that the gazetted versions of the certified and assented Acts were expected to be ready on or before January 1, 2026, noting that while the Clerk initiates the process, the responsibility for printing and publication rests with the Printing Press.
The statement also revealed that the National Assembly was reviewing its internal procedures to prevent similar issues in the future. It said that going forward, all bills for presidential assent would be routed through Presidential Liaison Officers, and that the Printing Press would only entertain requests for gazetting when initiated by the Clerk or an authorised representative.
The National Assembly thanked Nigerians for their interest and engagement, describing public scrutiny as a contribution to transparency, accountability and professionalism in the legislative process.
