By EricJames Ochigbo
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2025
The House of Representatives has taken a decisive step to address a potentially serious legislative anomaly. An Ad hoc Committee has been inaugurated with a mandate to investigate alleged discrepancies between the Tax Reform Acts as passed by the National Assembly and the versions officially published in the government gazette. The committee has pledged a swift yet thorough investigation to reconcile these critical differences.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Aliyu Betara (APC-Borno), made this commitment in a statement following the panel’s inaugural meeting in Abuja. He stated the committee is resolved to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the House “within the shortest possible time” to enable prompt legislative action.
The Genesis of the Probe: A Breach of Legislative Trust
Betara explained that the investigation was triggered by a motion of personal explanation raised by a member of the House. The core allegation is that there are inconsistencies—unexplained alterations, omissions, or additions—between the final laws approved by the elected legislature and the texts later gazetted and presented as the law of the land.
This is not a minor administrative issue. The gazette is the official, authoritative record of Nigerian law. Any discrepancy between a passed bill and the gazetted act creates legal uncertainty, undermines the rule of law, and can lead to significant consequences for businesses, tax authorities, and citizens who rely on the published statutes for compliance.
Stakes and Implications: More Than Just Textual Errors
The chairman framed the investigation’s purpose in weighty terms: to uphold legislative integrity, ensure due process, and maintain public confidence in the lawmaking process. This probe touches on fundamental democratic principles.
Practically, discrepancies in tax laws could mean that businesses are being assessed under different rules than those debated and passed by their representatives. A single altered clause could change liability thresholds, exempt certain sectors, or modify enforcement mechanisms, potentially costing the government billions in revenue or unfairly burdening specific taxpayers. The committee’s work is therefore crucial for economic stability and fair governance.
The Committee’s Mandate and Methodology
Betara reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to transparency and thoroughness. Its mandate is to conduct a line-by-line appraisal of the relevant Tax Reform Acts, comparing the National Assembly’s authenticated copies with the gazetted versions. The goal is to identify all “grey areas” and ensure “clarity, accuracy and full conformity” with constitutional provisions and legislative standards.
The promise of a “speedy” probe must be balanced against the need for “meticulous” examination. The committee will likely call upon clerks, legal drafters from the Parliamentary Counsel, and officials from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Government Printer to explain how such discrepancies could have occurred. Their findings will determine whether the issues stem from clerical error, procedural missteps, or something more concerning.
Looking Ahead: Outcomes and Accountability
Upon conclusion, the committee’s report and recommendations will be presented to the full House. Potential outcomes could range from a simple resolution to re-gazette corrected versions, to more severe actions if deliberate tampering is suspected. The process serves as a critical check within the legislative system, ensuring that the will of the parliament, as the people’s representative body, is not subverted after the vote.
This investigation underscores the often-overlooked but vital final stage of lawmaking: the faithful publication of agreed-upon texts. Its resolution will be closely watched by stakeholders across Nigeria’s economic and legal landscape. (NAN)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
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