President dismisses NASS probe, insists tax reforms launch January 1

‎President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially rejected calls to suspend the new tax law, insisting that the four tax reform laws will take effect on January 1, 2026, as scheduled. Despite a week of national debate and allegations of legislative forgery, the President maintains that no substantial issue has been established to warrant a delay.
‎
‎The four pillars of the reform are, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act.
‎
‎The primary driver of the current uproar is the allegation raised by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, the version of the laws signed and gazetted on June 26, contains unlawful insertions that were never voted on by the National Assembly.
‎
‎The National Assembly as a result of this allegation, ordered a re-gazetting of the laws last Friday to correct errors.
‎
‎Meanwhile, the Presidency since denies the alterations, stating that the implementation is in the delivery stage.
‎
‎Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have weighed in, stating that the judiciary is the only body capable of halting the New Year’s Day rollout.
‎
‎Dayo Akinlaja, SAN, stressed that the executive is bound to implement what is gazetted. Those aggrieved must seek an injunction or legislative amendment.
‎
‎Salman Jawondo, SAN also Pointed out that if the disputed provisions exist only in the gazette and not in the law passed by the Assembly, they are technically non-existent and should be expunged.
‎
‎Aliyu Musa Yawuri argued that stakeholders must ask the court to nullify and void any sections that are ultra vires, beyond the power of the President’s assent.
‎
‎The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), soon to be the National Revenue Service, will begin applying the new administrative rules, unless a last-minute court injunction is granted today.
‎
‎The government claims the laws will reduce the total number of taxes from over 60 down to a more manageable single-digit figure, describing it as a once-in-a-generation fiscal foundation for Nigeria.
‎
‎