SERAP writes Tinubu, demands certified copies of tax laws

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has written to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to widely publish certified true copies of the tax bills received from the National Assembly and the tax laws signed into law.

SERAP made the request in a Freedom of Information letter dated December 20, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The organisation listed the documents it seeks to include 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 asked the President to direct the Attorney General to clarify whether the versions of the tax bills transmitted by the National Assembly are identical to those signed into law and subsequently gazetted.

SERAP further urged the President to establish an independent panel of inquiry to investigate allegations that there are material differences between the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the tax laws eventually gazetted by the Federal Government.

According to the organisation, the panel should investigate what occurred and identify those responsible for any alleged alterations.

“The panel should be headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or Court of Appeal. The findings of the panel should be made public. Anyone responsible for the alleged alterations must face prosecution, as appropriate,” SERAP stated.

SERAP said publishing certified true copies of the bills and laws would enable Nigerians to scrutinise and compare the documents with the gazetted versions.

The group warned that alleged unlawful alterations would violate the 1999 Constitution (as amended), international human rights law, and the principles of the rule of law and separation of powers.

“The law-making processes including the passing of any bills and signing them into laws, as well as gazetting the laws must meet the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, the rule of law and separation of powers,” the letter read.

SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to comply with its request, warning that it would institute legal action if there was no response.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions,” the organisation said.

National Assembly’s allegations cited According to SERAP, the National Assembly has alleged unlawful alterations and material differences between the tax bills passed by both chambers and the versions gazetted by the Federal Government.

The organisation cited a motion raised under a matter of privilege by a Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, drawing attention to discrepancies between the harmonised bills approved by parliament and the gazetted copies.

SERAP said the National Assembly claimed that some provisions were inserted, deleted or modified after passage, without legislative approval.

It added that several oversight, accountability and reporting mechanisms approved by parliament were reportedly removed, while new coercive and fiscal powers were allegedly inserted without approval.

SERAP cited constitutional and international provisions guaranteeing the right to seek and receive information, stressing that citizens are entitled to access authentic and intelligible laws.

“The Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and the human rights treaties rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities,” the organisation stated.

SERAP said its requests were made in the public interest and in line with Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations on transparency and accountability.