The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately establish an independent panel of inquiry to investigate claims that Nigeria’s recently gazetted tax laws differ materially from the versions passed by the National Assembly.

In a Freedom of Information request signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the President to ensure the panel conducts a prompt, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigation.

SERAP stated that the panel should:

• Determine what occurred during the lawmaking process.
• Identify individuals responsible for any alleged changes.
• Be headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal.
• Make its findings public, with any responsible party facing prosecution.

The organisation also urged President Tinubu to direct the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to publish certified true copies of the tax bills received from the National Assembly and the versions ultimately gazetted. The documents cited include:

• National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act
• Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act
• Nigeria Tax Administration Act
• Nigeria Tax Act

SERAP emphasized that wide publication of these documents would allow public scrutiny and ensure the laws are accessible, authentic, and intelligible, in line with constitutional and international legal standards.

The organisation’s call follows claims from lawmakers that the gazetted tax laws contain alterations not approved by Parliament. Allegations include the insertion of new coercive powers, deletion of accountability mechanisms, and other substantive changes.

SERAP has given the government a seven-day deadline to act, warning that failure to comply will lead to legal action in the public interest.