Budget Office cautions against speculation on Tax Reform Acts

The Budget Office of the Federation has defended the credibility of Nigeria’s recently enacted Tax Reform Acts.

In its defence, the Office cautioned against what it described as “governance by speculation and unverified claims,” following allegations that the laws were altered after passage.

A statement signed by Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu,  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 central to constitutional democracy and goes beyond procedural formality.

According to the statement, any suggestion that a law could be modified after debate, passage, authentication, and presidential assent without following due process would “strike at the core of the Republic” and undermine citizens’ right to be governed by transparent and stable laws.

However, Yakubu also warned that democratic stability is threatened when unconfirmed claims are amplified in the public space. “A nation cannot be governed by insinuation or sustained on circulating documents of uncertain origin,” it said, adding that public confidence, once shaken by speculation, is often difficult to restore.

The Budget Office noted that both government and citizens share a common interest in truth, clarity and due process, pointing out that public finance depends heavily on trust in the legality and clarity of fiscal laws. It welcomed the decision of the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, describing institutional inquiry — not conjecture — as the appropriate response to claims of illegality.

On access to the law, Yakubu acknowledged that Nigerians and the business community are entitled to clear and authoritative texts of all 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 drew attention to the importance of separation of powers, warning that claims suggesting that Nigeria is being governed by “fake laws,” if not backed by established facts, risk eroding confidence in democratic institutions. At the same time, it said legislative scrutiny should not be treated as antagonism, noting that oversight is a constitutional duty.

From a fiscal standpoint, the Office stated that legal certainty is essential for revenue projections, macroeconomic stability, budget credibility, and investor confidence. While acknowledging that it is not the custodian of legislative records, it observed that uncertainty around operative tax provisions directly affects economic planning.

To restore confidence, the Yakubu proposed several measures, including 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 all implementing regulations with authenticated legal texts.

Responding to calls for suspension of the tax reforms, the Budget Office cautioned against allowing prudence to slip into inaction. It argued that properly implemented tax reform is necessary to reduce 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 that binds citizens and the state, insisting that compliance depends on transparency and trust. It called on political actors to protect institutions as much as positions, urging citizens and businesses to rely on verified sources and resist the spread of unauthenticated information.

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Yakubu said the agency remains committed to fiscal transparency, institutional integrity, and reforms that advance national prosperity while safeguarding citizens’ rights.