The House of Representatives has launched a formal investigation into alleged alterations in Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws, raising fresh questions about the integrity of the reform process just weeks before the laws are due to take effect. The development comes amid mounting political pressure, with the Peoples Democratic Party calling on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the new tax regime for an additional six months.

On Thursday, the House constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to examine claims that the version of the tax reforms currently gazetted and circulated across government agencies differs from what lawmakers passed. The probe follows concerns raised by a PDP lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki from Sokoto State, who warned that any unauthorised changes could render the laws constitutionally defective and legally vulnerable.

President Bola Tinubu recently signed four landmark tax reform bills into law, describing them as the most comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades. The new framework brings together the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act under a single authority, the Nigeria Revenue Service. The reforms are designed to simplify tax compliance, broaden the tax base, eliminate multiple taxation, and modernise revenue collection at the federal, state, and local government levels.

While the laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, after a six-month transition period, the controversy surrounding alleged alterations has deepened political divisions. At plenary on Thursday, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas described the allegations as serious and announced the formation of the ad hoc committee to investigate the matter and report back to the House. The committee is chaired by Mukhtar Betara and includes Idris Wase, James Faleke, Sada Soli, Igariwey Iduma, Fredrick Agbedi, and Babajimi Benson.

Dasuki had earlier urged lawmakers to carefully compare the gazetted version of the laws with the bills passed by the National Assembly, insisting that any discrepancies must be addressed openly. He warned that inserting or substituting provisions without legislative approval amounts to a breach of the Constitution and undermines parliamentary authority.

Seizing on the development, the PDP on Thursday demanded that the Federal Government further postpone the commencement of the tax laws by at least six months. The party argued that the delay would allow time for a thorough investigation into the alleged alterations and provide space for proper public enlightenment on the new legal framework. The opposition also praised Dasuki for what it described as courage and diligence in discharging his legislative responsibilities.

In a strongly worded statement, the PDP warned that inserting unenacted provisions into laws could erode public trust in the legislative process. The party insisted that Nigerians deserve assurance that the laws they are required to obey are exactly those passed by their elected representatives, not documents altered through what it described as “criminal acts.” It also cautioned the House leadership against treating the matter lightly or sweeping it under the carpet.

The controversy has been further amplified by growing resistance to the tax reforms from opposition groups. Earlier in the week, the National Opposition Movement called for the immediate suspension of the tax plan, describing it as punitive and ill-timed given Nigeria’s current economic hardships. The group argued that rising living costs, unemployment, and widespread poverty make the introduction of a new tax regime insensitive to the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.

However, the Federal Government has pushed back against the criticism, maintaining that the reforms are pro-poor and aimed at creating a fairer and more efficient revenue system. Speaking in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, accused some critics of deliberately undermining policies designed to strengthen the economy. He stressed that the reforms are not intended to increase the tax burden on the poor or small businesses, but rather to eliminate inefficiencies and redirect resources toward development.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has also insisted that the new laws will ease, not worsen, the burden on Nigerians. According to him, exemptions for small businesses, reduced taxes for workers and the middle class, lower corporate tax rates, and the removal of nuisance taxes are central features of the reform package. He attributed much of the public anxiety to misinformation and a poor understanding of the reforms.

As the debate intensifies, the outcome of the House investigation may prove critical in determining the future of the tax reforms. With January 1, 2026, fast approaching, the probe, the PDP’s call for delay, and the Federal Government’s defence of the policy have combined to place Nigeria’s tax overhaul at the centre of a growing political and economic storm.