Gazette Under Fire: Reps Fast-Track Probe Into Tax Laws as Integrity of Statute Books Tested
By Reportcircle News
The House of Representatives has moved swiftly to draw the curtain on its high-stakes probe into alleged discrepancies in Nigeria’s gazetted Tax Reform Acts, signalling urgency as questions mount over the fidelity of laws signed off by parliament and those published as binding statutes.
An Adhoc Committee of the House, set up to investigate the controversy, resolved on Tuesday to conclude its work “within the shortest possible time” and return a report to the chamber, raising expectations of a rapid reckoning in a matter that strikes at the core of legislative credibility.
The Committee, chaired by Muktar Aliyu Betara, held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, where members took up a Privilege Matter triggered by claims that sections of the tax reform laws as passed by the National Assembly differ from the versions later gazetted.
At the meeting, lawmakers agreed that the probe must be handled with speed but without compromise, citing the need to safeguard legislative integrity, uphold due process, and restore public confidence in the lawmaking process.
“This assignment must be concluded promptly,” members resolved, underscoring concerns that any lingering ambiguity over enacted tax laws could undermine legal certainty and investor confidence.
Chairman Betara reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to transparency and thorough scrutiny, assuring that its findings and recommendations would be laid before the House immediately the investigation is concluded.
The Adhoc Committee was constituted to establish clarity and accuracy in the nation’s statute books, ensuring that tax reforms duly passed by the National Assembly align fully with the versions gazettes, in strict compliance with constitutional provisions and established legislative standards.
With the Committee now racing against time, attention shifts to its forthcoming report expected to determine whether the discrepancies amount to clerical lapses or a deeper breach of legislative process, and what corrective action the House will take to protect the sanctity of Nigeria’s laws.
