By Priscilla Osaje
Abuja, Dec. 27, 2025 (NAN) – A significant constitutional and legislative controversy has erupted over Nigeria’s recently enacted tax reform laws, with a northern interest group, Arewa 100 Percent Focus, demanding an immediate review. The group alleges there are material discrepancies between the versions of the bills passed by the National Assembly and the official copies gazetted by the Executive, a claim that strikes at the heart of democratic governance and the separation of powers.
The call was made in a statement issued by the group’s National President, Dr. Abubakar Fakai, in Abuja on Saturday. The statement centers on revelations brought to light by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, representing the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“On Dec. 17, 2025, Hon. Dasuki raised a point of order during a plenary session, highlighting material discrepancies between the versions of the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly and the copies subsequently gazetted by the Executive,” Fakai stated. “Specifically, after meticulously reviewing the gazetted documents alongside the transmitted bills over the course of three days, Hon. Dasuki identified unauthorised alterations that deviate from the legislative intent approved by both chambers of the National Assembly.”
This allegation, if proven true, represents a profound breach of constitutional process. In Nigeria’s legislative framework, a bill becomes law only after being passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and subsequently assented to by the President. The “gazetted” version—published in the official government gazette—is the definitive, legally binding text. Any unauthorized alteration between presidential assent and gazetting undermines the entire democratic process, effectively allowing the executive to unilaterally rewrite laws passed by the legislature.
“These changes, if confirmed, represent a grave constitutional breach, as they undermine the separation of powers and the sanctity of laws enacted through due legislative process,” Fakai emphasized.
The Federal Government has categorically denied these claims. The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has asserted that only one official version of the laws exists and that no alterations were made post-assent by President Bola Tinubu. This sets the stage for a direct conflict of facts that requires independent verification, potentially by the National Assembly itself or the judiciary.
Dr. Fakai described Arewa 100 Percent Focus as an organization rooted in the principles of good governance and the protection of northern Nigeria’s interests. The tax reforms have already sparked significant regional concerns over equity and resource distribution, making the integrity of the final legal text a matter of paramount importance.
“The Arewa 100 Percent Focus can no longer extend any measure of trust to this tax reform process,” he declared. “The alleged tampering with the gazetted versions demonstrates a troubling pattern of insincerity on the part of the Executive, raising questions about the true motives behind these changes and their potential to disproportionately burden ordinary Nigerians, particularly in the Arewa region.”
The implications extend beyond regional politics. Fakai warned that such actions “not only violate constitutional norms but also betray the social contract between the government and the governed, fostering an environment of distrust that could undermine national unity and economic stability.” For businesses and investors, uncertainty about the actual provisions of a fundamental law like the tax code creates a crippling environment of regulatory risk, where the rules of the game may not be as officially published.
This controversy highlights the critical, often overlooked, stage of lawmaking: the transition from assent to gazettal. It underscores the need for transparent, verifiable procedures to ensure the text signed by the President is identical to the text published and enforced. The group’s demand for a review is likely to fuel calls for a forensic legislative audit, potentially involving the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Federal Government Printer, to resolve the discrepancy and restore public confidence in the nation’s legal infrastructure. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
PO/ADA
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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