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The Budget Office of the Federation has defended the integrity of Nigeria’s recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, cautioning against what it described as governance driven by speculation and unverified claims.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Dr Tanimu Yakubu, the 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 not merely a procedural requirement.
Yakubu said any suggestion that legislation could be altered after debate, passage, authentication, and presidential assent—without due process—would strike at the heart of the Republic and undermine citizens’ right to be governed by transparent and predictable laws.
While affirming respect for legislative scrutiny, the Budget Office warned that democratic stability is equally threatened when unsubstantiated claims are amplified in the public domain. “A nation cannot be governed by insinuation or sustained on circulating documents of uncertain origin,” the statement said, noting that public confidence, once eroded by speculation, is often difficult to rebuild.
The Office emphasised that both government and citizens share a common interest in truth, clarity, and due process, pointing out that public finance relies heavily on trust in the legality and certainty of fiscal laws. It therefore welcomed the National Assembly’s decision to investigate the allegations, describing institutional inquiry—rather than conjecture—as the appropriate response to claims of impropriety.
On access to legislation, Yakubu acknowledged the right of Nigerians and the business community to clear and authoritative versions of laws they are required to obey. He clarified, however, that the authenticity of legislation is determined by certified legislative records and official publication processes, not by informal or viral reproductions.
The statement also underscored the importance of the separation of powers, warning that claims suggesting Nigeria is being governed by “fake laws,” if unsupported by facts, risk eroding confidence in democratic institutions. At the same time, it noted that legislative oversight should not be misconstrued as antagonism, as scrutiny is a constitutional duty.
From a fiscal perspective, the Budget Office said 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 around operative tax provisions has direct implications for economic planning.
To strengthen public 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 a suspension of the tax reforms, the Office cautioned against allowing prudence to slide into inaction. It argued that effective tax reform is essential to reducing dependence on borrowing and inflationary financing, while easing indirect 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 Budget Office concluded by describing taxation as a democratic covenant between citizens and the state, stressing 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.
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