The Budget Office of the Federation has reaffirmed the integrity of Nigeria’s newly enacted Tax Reform Acts, warning against what it described as governance by speculation and unverified claims following allegations that the laws were altered after passage.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Budget 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 a mere procedural formality.
According to the Office, any suggestion that a law 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 stable laws.
However, it cautioned that democratic integrity is also threatened by the careless spread of unverified allegations. The Office warned that public confidence in governance could be severely damaged by speculation and documents of uncertain origin.
“A nation cannot be governed by insinuation or sustained on circulating documents of uncertain origin,” the statement said, noting that trust, once eroded, is often difficult to rebuild.
The Budget Office emphasized that both government and citizens share a common interest in truth, clarity and due process, adding that public finance relies heavily on confidence in the legality and certainty of fiscal laws. It welcomed the decision of the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, describing institutional inquiry, rather than conjecture, as the appropriate response to claims of illegality.
On public access to legislation, the Office agreed that Nigerians and the business community are entitled to clear and authoritative texts of the laws they are required to obey. It 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 separation of powers, warning that claims suggesting Nigeria is being governed by “fake laws,” if not supported by established facts, could erode confidence in democratic institutions. At the same time, it noted that legislative scrutiny should not be dismissed by the executive, stressing that oversight is a constitutional responsibility, not an act of hostility.
From a fiscal standpoint, the Budget Office said legal certainty is critical for revenue projections, macroeconomic stability, budget credibility and investor confidence. While noting that it is not the custodian of legislative records, the Office maintained that uncertainty surrounding operative tax provisions directly affects economic planning.
To restore public confidence, the Office proposed several measures, including the publication of verified reference texts in a single public repository, orderly access to Certified True Copies of laws for stakeholders, clear public explanations 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 cautioned against allowing prudence to degenerate into paralysis. 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 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, while calling on citizens and businesses to rely on verified sources and resist the spread of unauthenticated information.
The statement was signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, who reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to fiscal transparency, institutional integrity and reforms that promote national prosperity while safeguarding citizens’ rights.
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