Nigeria's proposed fiscal policy and tax reforms, slated to commence on January 1, 2026, have ignited a fierce controversy marked by allegations of altered legislation, official denials, and warnings of a widening crisis of trust and governance. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has dismissed claims that the new tax laws were modified after passage by the National Assembly, labeling the allegations as misinformation designed to generate fear and impede reform implementation.

Oyedele explained that authoritative establishment of discrepancies between gazetted tax laws and parliamentary versions is currently impossible, as the certified harmonised copies from the National Assembly to the President have not been made public. He asserted that only lawmakers, with access to these certified documents, can definitively confirm any alterations. Oyedele detailed his committee's mandate: to identify systemic flaws and propose solutions to improve Nigeria's tax system, focusing on reducing business taxes, eliminating taxes for low-income earners, and ensuring harmonisation. He confirmed that the drafted bills underwent rigorous legislative scrutiny in both chambers before harmonisation, and his post-harmonisation role involved verifying that the policy direction remained consistent with the initial objectives of tax reduction and harmonisation.

Acknowledging an earlier circulation of an unauthorised draft gazette containing errors, Oyedele stated that these mistakes were identified, escalated, and corrected before the final gazette was issued. He refuted widely circulated reports alleging major changes as