THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, asking him to ensure the public release of certified true copies of recently enacted federal tax laws amid allegations that the legislations were altered after approval by the National Assembly.

In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated December 20, 2025, SERAP urged President Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to immediately publish the certified copies of the tax bills transmitted by the National Assembly, alongside the final versions assented to and gazetted by the Nigerian government.

It identified four laws 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 also demanded a clear explanation on whether the bills passed by lawmakers were identical to the versions signed into law and subsequently gazetted., warning that any discrepancies would constitute a grave violation of constitutional governance, the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of powers.

Beyond disclosure, SERAP called for the establishment of an independent investigative panel, to be chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, to examine claims that key provisions were added, removed or amended without legislative approval. It insisted that the panel’s findings should be made public and that those found culpable should be prosecuted.

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The demand follows concerns reportedly raised by the National Assembly that some provisions contained in the gazetted tax laws were never approved during legislative deliberations.

A lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, had raised the matter on the floor of the House under a point of privilege, alleging substantial differences between the harmonised bills passed by both chambers and the versions later published by the Nigerian government.

“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.

“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 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.

Reacting to the legislator’s submission, SERAP said lawmakers had cited the alleged removal of critical oversight and accountability safeguards, as well as the insertion of new enforcement and fiscal powers, including arrest authority, garnishment without court orders and mandatory dollar-based assessments, without parliamentary consent.

SERAP described the alleged alterations as unconstitutional, arguing that the failure to make authentic copies of the laws available violated citizens’ right to information under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It warned that if the Federal Government failed to comply within 7 days of receiving the request, it would have no choice but to initiate legal action to compel disclosure in the public interest.

SERAP maintained that publishing the certified true copies would allow Nigerians to scrutinise the laws, assess their implications for human rights and governance, and challenge any unlawful provisions through appropriate legal channels.