The Budget Office of the Federation has moved to defend the credibility of Nigeria’s recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, cautioning against what it described as “governance by speculation and unverified claims” amid allegations that the laws were altered after passage.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, the Budget Office said it had taken note of concerns raised by the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, stressing that the sanctity of the law is fundamental to constitutional democracy and transcends mere procedural formalities.
Yakubu warned that any suggestion that legislation could be modified after debate, passage, authentication, and presidential assent—without following due process—would “strike at the core of the Republic” and undermine citizens’ right to be governed by transparent and stable laws.
At the same time, the Office cautioned that democratic stability is equally threatened when unverified claims are amplified in the public domain. “A nation cannot be governed by insinuation or sustained on circulating documents of uncertain origin,” the statement read, noting that public confidence, once eroded by speculation, is often difficult to restore.
The Budget Office emphasized that both government and citizens share a collective interest in truth, clarity, and due process, particularly as public finance depends heavily on trust in the legality and certainty of fiscal laws. It welcomed the decision of the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, describing institutional inquiry—rather than conjecture—as the appropriate response to claims of illegality.
On access to the law, Yakubu acknowledged that Nigerians and the business community are entitled to clear and authoritative versions of all laws they are required to obey. However, he clarified that the authenticity of legislation is determined by certified legislative records and official publication processes, not informal or viral reproductions.
The statement also underscored the importance of separation of powers, warning that claims suggesting Nigeria is being governed by “fake laws,” if unsupported by facts, risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions. It added that legislative scrutiny should not be misconstrued as antagonism, noting that oversight remains a constitutional obligation.
From a fiscal perspective, the Budget Office stressed that legal certainty is critical for revenue projections, macroeconomic stability, budget credibility, and investor confidence. Although it is not the custodian of legislative records, the Office observed that uncertainty surrounding operative tax provisions directly undermines economic planning.
To restore confidence, Yakubu proposed measures including the publication of verified reference texts in a single public repository, orderly access to Certified True Copies for stakeholders, clear public explanations where discrepancies are alleged, and strict alignment of implementing regulations with authenticated legal texts.
Responding to calls for the suspension of the tax reforms, the Budget Office cautioned against allowing prudence to degenerate into inaction. It argued that effective tax reform is essential to reducing dependence on borrowing and inflationary financing, while easing indirect economic burdens on vulnerable citizens.
“Where clarification is required, it must be provided; where correction is required, it must be effected; where investigation is required, it must proceed,” the statement said, adding that governance and reform should not be stalled by unresolved conjecture.
The Office concluded by describing taxation as a democratic covenant between the state and citizens, insisting that compliance depends on transparency and trust. It urged political actors to protect institutions as much as positions, and called on citizens and businesses to rely on verified sources while resisting the spread of unauthenticated information.
Yakubu reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to fiscal transparency, institutional integrity, and reforms that promote national prosperity while safeguarding citizens’ rights.