SERAP tells Tinubu to publish certified copies of tax laws in one week or face court action
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has handed President Bola Tinubu a one-week deadline to see to the public release of certified true copies of recently enacted federal tax laws, following allegations that the legislations may have been doctored after approval by the National Assembly.
In a Freedom of Information request dated December 20, 2025, SERAP asked President Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to swiftly publish the certified versions of the tax bills transmitted by the National Assembly, as well as the final laws assented to and gazetted by the Federal Government.
SERAP listed four major legislations at the centre of the controversy: 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 requested for an official explanation on whether the bills passed by lawmakers are exactly the same as the versions signed into law and later gazetted, warning that any inconsistencies would amount to a serious breach of constitutional governance, the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of powers.
In addition to public disclosure, SERAP called for the constitution of an independent investigative panel, to be chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, to probe allegations that key provisions were added, removed or amended without legislative approval.
The group insisted that the panel’s findings should be made public and that anyone found responsible should face prosecution.
The demand is following after concerns raised by the National Assembly, which has reportedly claimed that certain provisions appearing in the gazetted tax laws were never approved during legislative deliberations.
