House of Representatives has released certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, addressing public concerns over alleged discrepancies between legislative versions and circulated gazetted documents.

Tax Reform Acts

House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the immediate publication of the Acts—including endorsement and presidential assent pages—for public verification, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The move followed allegations raised by Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki on the House floor, highlighting inconsistencies between Bills passed by the National Assembly and executive gazetted versions, which he warned could erode legislative integrity and public trust.

Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Aliyu Betara, with members including Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson, to investigate the alleged alterations, unauthorised circulation and preventive measures.

The committee’s mandate includes probing circumstances around the discrepancies, while Abbas ordered internal verification and public release of certified copies to dispel doubts and safeguard legislative records. Legal experts, tax professionals and civil society had demanded clarification and implementation suspension amid heated debates triggered by Dasuki’s intervention.

The released laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025, described as foundational to modernising Nigeria’s tax system.

These reforms aim to enhance compliance, curb inefficiencies, eliminate overlaps and bolster fiscal coordination across federal, state and local tiers, following extensive stakeholder consultations, committee reviews and plenary debates under Abbas’s leadership.

Rotimi reassured Nigerians: “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway.”

He emphasised that only National Assembly-certified versions hold authority, urging the public, institutions and stakeholders to disregard all other circulating documents as unofficial.

974 Nigerians Face Imminent Deportation from Canada Amid Enforcement Surge – No fewer than 974 Nigerians are currently facing imminent deportation from Canada, according to official data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The affected individuals fall under the country’s “removal-in-progress” category, signifying that deportation proceedings have commenced but remain inconclusive, pending final arrangements such as travel documents. Between January and October 2025 alone, Canadian authorities deported 366 Nigerians, marking a significant uptick from previous years.
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Of these, approximately 83 per cent comprised failed refugee claimants, while criminality accounted for about four per cent of cases. Nigeria emerged as the only African country in Canada’s top 10 nationalities for deportations in 2025, securing ninth position, while ranking fifth among those awaiting removal.

This contrasts sharply with 2023 and 2024, when Nigeria was absent from the top 10 deportation list, though figures reflect an eight per cent rise over the 2019 total of 339 removals.

Canada’s aggressive enforcement drive has seen nearly 400 foreign nationals removed weekly, culminating in 18,048 deportations during the 2024-2025 fiscal year at a cost of about $78 million.

The initiative draws support from an additional $30.5 million for removals and $1.3 billion for border enforcement, aimed at bolstering immigration controls amid pressures on housing, employment, and security.

Canada remains a prime destination for Nigerians outside the United Kingdom and United States, with over 71,000 acquiring citizenship between 2005 and 2024, alongside thousands arriving annually as students, workers, and permanent residents.
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Under Canadian law, those issued enforceable removal orders must depart voluntarily or face enforced exit. The CBSA’s nationwide inventory lists 29,542 individuals in removal-in-progress as of late 2025, dominated by failed refugee claims at 15,605 cases. Nigeria’s 974 cases place it behind India (6,515), Mexico (4,650), USA (1,704), and China (1,430).
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Immigration lawyers caution that passage of Bill C-12 could escalate deportations by imposing permanent bans on certain refugee claims and curbing late filings.

Authorities attribute the push to restoring system integrity, with non-compliance by refugee claimants driving most inadmissibility findings.

Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mrs Amaka Onwughalu as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026, following the completion of Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi’s tenure on December 31, 2025.

Mrs Amaka Onwughalu

The seamless board transition aligns with the tier-one lender’s governance policy and has been duly notified to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), and other key stakeholders.

During Mr Chike-Obi’s stewardship, Fidelity Bank achieved remarkable milestones, including the full repayment of its Eurobond, successful execution of an oversubscribed public offer and rights issue by 237 per cent and 137.73 per cent respectively, and expansion into the United Kingdom market.

The bank also fortified its capital base, recorded robust growth in customer deposits and total assets, advanced its digital banking infrastructure, and elevated its corporate and investment banking offerings under his leadership.

Notable strides were made in governance, risk management, and operational efficiency, all of which bolstered market confidence and sustained the bank’s impressive performance trajectory.

Reflecting on his time at the helm, Mr Chike-Obi said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of Fidelity Bank. The dedication of our Board, management, and staff has enabled us to reach significant milestones. I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive and deliver value to all stakeholders.”

Mrs Onwughalu, who joined the board in December 2020 and chaired several key committees, brings over 30 years of banking expertise, including executive positions at Mainstreet Bank Limited and Skye Bank Plc.

She holds degrees in Economics, Corporate Governance, and Business Administration, alongside executive training from leading global institutions, and is a Fellow of multiple professional bodies with accolades for accountability and financial management.

“I am honoured to lead the Board of Fidelity Bank at this exciting time. Our recent achievements have set a strong foundation for continued growth. I look forward to working with my colleagues to drive our strategy and deliver sustainable value,” Mrs Onwughalu stated.

Recognised among Nigeria’s top-performing banks, Fidelity Bank serves over 9.1 million customers via digital platforms, 255 business offices across Nigeria, and its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The institution has garnered numerous awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking by BusinessDay BAFI Awards, Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider by Global Brands Magazine.

It was also named Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by Euromoney Awards for Excellence and Export Financing Bank of the Year by BusinessDay BAFI Awards.