Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Legislation

  • Reps release certified tax-law copies to end confusion as reforms roll out

    Reps release certified tax-law copies to end confusion as reforms roll out

    Figures cited by Punch show Nigeria’s House of Representatives has released certified true copies (CTCs) of the newly passed tax laws, aiming to resolve discrepancies and improve clarity for implementation.

    Lawmakers say the move is meant to align what stakeholders are seeing in circulation with the versions formally passed, so agencies, businesses, and professional bodies can reference the same texts.

    The Nation reported that federal lawmakers released the CTCs to “address discrepancy,” while THISDAY similarly reported the chamber’s push to ensure stakeholders rely on a single, authoritative version of the reforms.

    For taxpayers and businesses, the next test is whether clarified texts translate into consistent regulations, guidance notes, and enforcement without sudden interpretive shocks.

    Echotitbits take: For taxpayers and businesses, the next test is whether clarified texts translate into consistent regulations, guidance notes, and enforcement without sudden interpretive shocks.

    Source: Arise — January 4, 2026 (https://www.arise.tv/house-releases-certified-tax-acts-to-clarify-controversy-restore-public-confidence/)

    Arise January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: Arise

  • National Assembly responds to outrage over alleged discrepancies in gazetted fiscal laws

    National Assembly responds to outrage over alleged discrepancies in gazetted fiscal laws

    2026-01-01 06:45:00
    According to The Guardian (Nigeria), the National Assembly issued clarifications on the passage-to-gazette process for major tax and revenue laws after public outrage over alleged discrepancies.

    In an update published by the outlet, lawmakers positioned the process as orderly while acknowledging rising concerns about transparency and chain-of-custody from passage to publication.

    The controversy has amplified calls for clean, verifiable “as passed” texts to support compliance and public trust.

    ARISE TV also framed the dispute as a demand for suspension and review over alleged discrepancies between versions passed and versions published.

    Other civic and media summaries similarly described the issue as scrutiny over differences between gazetted laws and the texts lawmakers said were approved.

    Echotitbits take:

    This is a trust test. The clean fix is document transparency: publish side-by-side versions, harmonisation notes, and an audit trail of edits—otherwise compliance could suffer and investment risk perception could rise.

    Source: The Guardian Nigeria — December 26, 2025 (https://guardian.ng/news/nass-clarifies-process-on-tax-revenue-acts-amid-outrage/)

    The Guardian — 2026-01-01 06:45:00

    Photo Credit: The Guardian

  • Presidency, Lawmakers Trade Claims Over “Different” Gazetted Tax Text

    Presidency, Lawmakers Trade Claims Over “Different” Gazetted Tax Text

    Photo Credit: Vanguard
    2025-12-23 09:00:00

    According to Vanguard, the Federal Government says it did not tamper with Nigeria’s newly passed tax reform laws, even as lawmakers raise questions about what was eventually gazetted for public consumption.

    Officials argue that the executive transmitted a single set of harmonised documents to the National Assembly, and that what came out of the legislative process should be treated as the authoritative reference pending any verified comparison.

    On the other side, legislators pushing the controversy say the version in circulation needs scrutiny to confirm it matches what both chambers passed and forwarded for presidential assent.

    The dispute has now shifted toward formal verification, with expectations that the legislature’s internal certification process and “final harmonised copy” will settle the matter.

    Validation: TheCable quoted Information Minister Mohammed Idris saying, “there is only one version of that tax document.” Separately, TheCable also quoted Taiwo Oyedele urging caution: “Let’s wait for the findings of the lawmakers. If, indeed, there were alterations,” he said.

    Echotitbits take: This is less about politics and more about process integrity. Watch the committee’s findings, but also watch for how Nigeria upgrades legislative “quality assurance” so gazetted laws can’t be disputed after passage.

    Source: Vanguard — December 23, 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/gazette-furore-we-didnt-alter-tax-laws-fg/)
    Vanguard 2025-12-23

  • Stakeholders warn Senate against death-penalty option in kidnapping bill

    Stakeholders warn Senate against death-penalty option in kidnapping bill

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
    2025-12-18 17:00:00

    The Nation reports that stakeholders at a Senate hearing pushed back against proposals to introduce death penalty provisions for kidnapping, citing legal, rights and implementation concerns.

    Critics argue deterrence is unlikely if conviction rates remain low, and that reforms should prioritise investigation quality, prosecution capacity and victim protection.

    Verification: Premium Times and Channels TV also reported the public hearing and documented opposition from the AGF, NBA and other groups.

    Quotes: Premium Times: “AGF, NBA, others oppose death penalty for kidnapping…” Channels TV: “raised concerns… at the public hearing…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s crisis is less about harsh laws and more about weak enforcement. Watch the final Senate wording and whether the bill strengthens investigations, forensics and witness protection without expanding punitive powers that can be abused.

    Source: The Nation — 2025-12-18 — https://thenationonlineng.net/stakeholders-oppose-death-penalty-for-kidnapping/

    The Nation 2025-12-18

  • Nigeria National Assembly Passes N13.5trn 2021 Budget, N500bn Higher than Initial Proposal

    The Senate on Monday passed the 2021 Appropriation Bill of N13.5 trillion.

    This followed the adoption of the report of Senate Committee on Appropriations at plenary.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Oct. 8, presented the 2021 budget of N13.08 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly for approval.

    Similarly, the House of Representatives also passed the 2021 budget of N13.5 trillion for the Year 2021 has been passed by Nigeria’s National Assembly on Monday ahead of the Christmas and New Year break.

    READ ALSO:

    COVID-19 Second Wave: Lagos Restricts Church Gathering Again, Bans Concerts, Others

    The passing of the budget, which followed consideration of a report by the committee on appropriation is N500bn higher than the N13.08 Trillion earlier presented before the joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Details of the budget include about N6 Trillion allocated for recurrent expenditure, N4.2 trillion for Capital expenditure and N3.32 Trillion for Debt servicing.

    READ ALSO:

    SIM registration: FG Backtracks on NIN Retrieval Fee

    Presenting the report on the floor of the house, Chairman of the Committee on appropriation, Alhaji Aliyu Betera, while presenting the committee’s report on the floor of the House confirmed that sectors with highest allocation in the 2021 Appropriation Bill includes Defence with about N840bn (eight hundred and forty Billion naira); education with over N545bn (five hundred and forty five Billion naira), Police Affairs about N438bn (four hundred and thirty eight Billion naira) while health sector received over N380 (three hundred and eighty Billion naira.)

    The nation’s 2021 budget estimate is based on a $40 per barrel assumption, with crude oil production at 1.86million barrel per day.