Budget Office Defends Tax Reform Laws, Urges Restraint Amid Alteration Claims
By Darasimi Kikelomo
The Budget Office of the Federation has pushed back against claims that Nigeria’s recently enacted Tax Reform Acts were altered after passage, warning that speculation and the circulation of unverified documents pose risks to democratic stability and public trust.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, said the Office was concerned about what it described as a growing trend of “governance by insinuation,” following allegations raised in the public domain and by the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives.
Yakubu emphasised that the integrity of the legislative process is a cornerstone of constitutional democracy, noting that any suggestion that a law could be modified after debate, passage, authentication, and presidential assent, without due process, would undermine the rule of law.
“Such assertions strike at the heart of the Republic and erode citizens’ right to be governed by transparent, predictable, and stable laws,” the statement said.
While reaffirming respect for legislative oversight, the Budget Office cautioned that democracy is equally endangered when unsubstantiated claims are amplified without verification.
“A nation cannot be governed by speculation or sustained by documents of uncertain origin circulating in the public space,” Yakubu said, warning that confidence in institutions, once damaged, is difficult to rebuild.
The Office noted that both government and citizens share a vested interest in clarity, truth, and due process, stressing that public finance is heavily dependent on trust in the legality and certainty of fiscal laws. It welcomed the decision of the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, describing institutional review, rather than conjecture, as the appropriate democratic response.
On access to legislation, the Budget Office acknowledged the right of Nigerians and the business community to clear and authoritative versions of all applicable laws. However, it clarified that the authenticity of legislation is determined by certified legislative records and official publication channels, not by informal copies or viral reproductions.
The statement also highlighted the importance of the separation of powers, warning that claims suggesting the country is being governed by “fake laws,” if unsupported by evidence, could weaken confidence in democratic institutions. At the same time, it stressed that legislative scrutiny should not be misinterpreted as hostility, noting that oversight remains a constitutional obligation.
From a fiscal standpoint, the Office said legal certainty is essential for credible revenue projections, macroeconomic stability, budget planning, and investor confidence. Although it is not the custodian of legislative records, it noted that ambiguity surrounding operative tax provisions directly complicates economic planning and policy implementation.
To strengthen public confidence, Yakubu outlined several remedial steps, including the publication of verified reference texts in a single public repository, structured access to Certified True Copies for stakeholders, prompt public clarification where discrepancies are alleged, and strict alignment of all implementing regulations with authenticated legal texts.
Addressing calls for the suspension of the tax reforms, the Budget Office warned against allowing caution to translate into policy paralysis. It argued that effective tax reform is critical to reducing reliance on borrowing and inflationary financing, while easing indirect pressures on vulnerable citizens.
“Where clarification is needed, it must be given; where correction is required, it must be made; and where investigation is necessary, it must proceed,” the statement said, adding that reform should not be stalled by unresolved conjecture.
The Office concluded by describing taxation as a democratic compact between the state and its citizens, stressing that compliance depends on transparency and trust. It urged political actors to safeguard institutions alongside political positions, and called on citizens and businesses to rely on verified sources of information.
Yakubu reaffirmed the Budget Office’s commitment to fiscal transparency, institutional integrity, and reforms that promote sustainable national prosperity while protecting citizens’ rights.
