PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says that the new tax laws will take effect on January 1, 2026, as earlier announced, ignoring public criticism and controversy over alleged alterations in the gazetted version of the legislation he signed.

In a statement signed on Tuesday from Europe, the President said the reforms already implemented on June 26, 2025, as well as those due to commence on January 1, 2026, remained on course.

Tinubu described the reforms as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for our country,” noting that they would improve the economy.

He stressed that the new laws were not intended to impose higher tax burdens on citizens, but to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and “protect dignity while strengthening the social contract.”

READ ALSO: Atiku: Forgery of Tinubu’s tax reform law is act of treason against Nigerians

The President acknowledged the public debate triggered by reports of changes to some provisions of the legislation but said no issue raised so far justified halting or disrupting the reform process.

He said absolute trust was always built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures, noting that his administration remained fully committed to due process and the integrity of enacted laws.

Tinubu pledged continued cooperation with the National Assembly to address any genuine gaps or areas of concern that might emerge during implementation.

He urged stakeholders to support what he described as “the delivery phase of the tax reform programme.”

“I assure all Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue to act in the overriding public interest to ensure a tax system that supports prosperity and shared responsibility,” the President said.

Context is important

Last Wednesday, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, had alleged that there were discrepancies between the tax reform law passed by the National Assembly and the gazetted copy available to the public.

Dasuki, who represents Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency of Sokoto, raised a point of privilege on the floor of the lower legislative chamber during Wednesday’s plenary.

“What was passed on the floor is not what is gazetted. Mr speaker, honourable colleagues, I was here, I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I am seeing something completely different,” he said.

The lawmaker said he obtained copies of the gazetted law from the Ministry of Information and found that they were different from the copies harmonised and approved by the House, while calling on Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, to critically examine what was passed by the legislators and what was gazetted by the government.

“This is a breach of the constitution and a breach of our laws, and it should not be taken lightly by this honourable house,” he said, warning that the discrepancy was a constitutional breach and urged the House to treat the matter with urgency.

The issue attracted several reactions. Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar, said alterations to the new tax laws passed by the National Assembly was an act of treason against the Nigerian people.

READ ALSO: How new tax laws will support low-income Nigerians

Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described the alleged ‘unauthorised alterations’ as ‘a direct assault on our constitutional democracy.’

He said this on his X handle last Tuesday, stressing that the draconian overreach by the executive undermined the principle of legislative supremacy in lawmaking and revealed a government more interested in extracting wealth from struggling citizens than empowering them to prosper.

In his reaction, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, said Nigeria had migrated from padded budgets to forged tax laws, noting that it was a reflection of how the nation had nosedived in values.

Writing on his X handle on Saturday. Mr Obi said the nation’s shame had continued to unfold, evident in the decisions made by its leaders, even at the highest levels of government. He noted that the shame was highlighted by a ‘deeply troubling’ and ‘frankly unacceptable’ discrepancies between what the legislature passed and what was ultimately published as law by the executive.

Similarly, there are issues around the capital gains tax (CGT), which was raised from 10 percent to 30 percent. It is yet to be resolved despite feelers that it may be reduced to 25 percent.