- CSOs say National Assembly records remain unchanged, commend NASS Leadership on decision to re-gazette the tax laws
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations, The Patriots, has dismissed allegations of alterations of the Tax Reforms Acts passed by the National Assembly.
In a statement on Sunday signed by Mohammed E. Dauda, The Patriots said “it is settled in law that the burden of proof lies on those making such allegations.
“We have carefully studied the allegations, and our findings revealed that there are no material alterations. Pending any judicial determination, Acts duly passed by the National Assembly remain valid and binding.
“Administrative irregularities, if any, cannot invalidate legislative Acts or justify undermining parliamentary authority.”
Dateline Nigeria reports that a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdulsamad Dasuki had recently alleged that the tax bills passed by the National Assembly were altered in the ones gazetted by the Presidency.
Read the full statement by The Patriots below:
THE PATRIOTS:
ALLEGATIONS OF ALTERATIONS TO TAX REFORMS ACTS DO NOT HOLD WATER
- National Assembly records remain unchanged
- We commend NASS Leadership on decision to re-gazette the Tax Laws
We, The Patriots, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations committed to constitutional governance, the rule of law, and legislative accountability, wish to express our firm support for the leadership of the National Assembly regarding the decision to re-gazette the Tax Acts 2025.
We, The Patriots, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations committed to constitutional governance, the rule of law, and legislative accountability, wish to express our firm support for the leadership of the National Assembly regarding the decision to re-gazette the Tax Acts 2025.
Recent public discourse has highlighted alleged discrepancies between the versions published in the Official Gazette and the Votes and Proceedings of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is important to state clearly that the Votes and Proceedings of 28th May, 2025 of the Senate and the House of Representatives constitute the authoritative records of the decisions of the National Assembly on these Acts.
We are aware that these Votes and Proceedings were published as far back as 29th May, 2025, and have been in circulation since then. We have taken our time to carefully go through the harmonized copies of these Acts and the Votes and Proceedings, as well as the Conference Reports.
Interestingly, we are yet to see any material discrepancies in the records of the National Assembly.
It is also alleged that there are two versions of the Acts published in the Official Gazette. We are yet to ascertain this allegation. However, gazetting is a ministerial and administrative function, not a legislative responsibility. It exists to give the public notice of laws already validly enacted; it does not confer authority to alter, amend, or rewrite laws passed by the National Assembly.
Accordingly, any variance arising from administrative publication cannot override what both Houses of the National Assembly duly approved. This principle has been affirmed by Nigerian Courts in a plethora of cases – See AGF vs Guardian Newspaper Ltd (1989) I NWLR (pt 99) 1 where the court recognized that administrative publications cannot alter the substance of law. AG of Lagos State Vs AG of the Federation (1986) NWLR (pt 17) 244, affirming that Acts of the legislature remain valid despite procedural irregularities in publications; and AG. Ondo State Vs AG of the Federation (2002) 6 NWLR (pt.764) 279, reinforcing that parliamentary intent as recorded in official records prevails over extraneous documents or clerical errors.
While allegations of alterations are serious and must be addressed through appropriate internal machinery, it is settled in law that the burden of proof lies on those making such allegations. We have carefully studied the allegations, and our findings revealed that there are no material alterations. Pending any judicial determination, Acts duly passed by the National Assembly remain valid and binding. Administrative irregularities, if any, cannot invalidate legislative Acts or justify undermining parliamentary authority.
We totally agree with the leadership of the National Assembly that re-gazetting the Tax Acts in their correct form – as reflected in the harmonized clean copies, the Votes and Proceedings and the Conference Report – is proper, lawful and appropriate remedy. Calls for suspension of implementation or repeal and re-enactment are unnecessary, constitutionally unsound and risk creating avoidable legal and fiscal uncertainty.
We further commend the National Assembly leadership’s directive to the Clerk to the National Assembly to issue Certified True Copies of the Acts to members of the public upon request, as these promote transparency, legal certainty and public confidence.
We urge all aggrieved persons and the general public to respect parliamentary records, support prompt re-gazetting of the Acts, and refrain from narratives that undermine the authority of democratic institutions.
We make the above submissions in the best interest of our country, the citizens and for good governance to prevail in our dear nation.
Signed:
Muhammad E. Dauda
Sunday, December 28, 2025
For: The Patriots
Abuja, Nigeria
