SERAP gives Tinubu seven days over alleged tampering with Tax Laws

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding the immediate publication of certified true copies (CTCs) of recently signed federal tax laws amid allegations of post-legislative alterations.

In a Freedom of Information request dated 20 December 2025, SERAP urged the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to widely publish the certified versions of the tax bills received from the National Assembly and the final laws signed and gazetted by the Federal Government

The civil society organisation specifically listed four key legislations: the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Nigeria Tax Act.

SERAP also demanded official clarification on whether the bills passed by the National Assembly are identical to the versions signed into law and subsequently gazetted, warning that any discrepancies would undermine constitutional order, the rule of law and separation of powers.

Beyond disclosure, the group called for the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry, to be headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, to investigate allegations that substantive provisions were inserted, deleted or modified after legislative approval. According to SERAP, the panel’s findings must be made public and anyone found culpable prosecuted accordingly

The ultimatum follows claims by the National Assembly that the gazetted versions of the tax laws contain provisions that were never approved by lawmakers.

A Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, had reportedly raised the issue under a matter of privilege, alleging material discrepancies between the harmonised bills passed by both chambers and the versions published by the Federal Government.

SERAP said parliament had identified the removal of several oversight and accountability mechanisms, alongside the insertion of new coercive and fiscal powers, including arrest authority, garnishment without court orders and compulsory dollar-based computations, without legislative consent

Describing the alleged alterations as unconstitutional, SERAP argued that failure to publish authentic copies of the laws violates citizens’ right to access information as guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The organisation warned that if the Federal Government fails to act within seven days of receiving the letter, it will institute legal proceedings to compel compliance in the public interest.

According to SERAP, making the certified true copies publicly available would allow Nigerians to scrutinise the laws, assess their human rights implications and challenge any unlawful provisions through appropriate legal remedies