He denied working with the House of Representatives’ version of the tax bill that has been widely shared and said that claims about altered provisions are based on fake or inaccurate documents.
According to Oyedele, the official harmonised bill certified by the Clerk of the National Assembly the version actually transmitted to the President for assent is not publicly available, so it’s not possible to compare it directly with what’s been gazetted or circulated.
Oyedele stressed that what seems to be discrepancies may stem from drafts or unauthorized releases, not the final law. As an example, he noted a provision about a 20 % deposit in Section 41(8) seen in some versions does not appear in the final gazetted copy.
He urged patience and for Nigerians to allow the House of Representatives’ investigative committee to complete its review of the process before drawing conclusions.
Several lawmakers and public figures have raised alarms that the version of the tax acts gazetted and the one passed by the National Assembly may differ, leading to calls for suspension or re-gazetting of the law.
Oyedele insists the controversy is rooted in procedural and systemic issues, not deliberate tampering, and he rejects framing it as a legislative vs. executive conflict.
He has also emphasised that delays in implementing the new tax regime could keep many Nigerians overtaxed under the old system.
The controversy comes as Nigeria prepares to implement major tax reforms from January 1, 2026, which are aimed at restructuring personal and corporate taxation.
Public confidence in the integrity of the legislative process is central to whether the reforms take effect smoothly or face legal, political, or administrative setbacks.
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