The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) have called for the immediate suspension of the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, citing controversies that they say undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s lawmaking process and threaten constitutional governance.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 23, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the passage of the laws. He warned that the controversy strikes at the heart of democratic principles.
“The issues surrounding the Tax Reform Acts call into question whether due process and established legislative procedures were strictly followed in a democratic society,” the NBA said.
The association urged a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation to clarify the events leading to the enactment of the laws and restore public confidence in the National Assembly.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the statement added.
Opposition Party Joins Calls for Suspension
The PRP echoed similar concerns in a statement issued Monday in Abuja by its National Chairman, Falalu Bello, following allegations by a member of the House of Representatives that the executive arm altered key provisions of the tax laws after their passage.
“The PRP is deeply alarmed and condemns the blatant executive misconduct and flagrant disregard for constitutional sovereignty exhibited by the current administration in the recent manipulation of Nigeria’s tax laws,” the party said.
The PRP demanded a full-scale investigation into the discrepancies between the laws passed by lawmakers and the version gazetted by the Federal Government, insisting that all those found culpable must be punished.
“If evidence emerges implicating President Bola Tinubu in these illegal manipulations, the PRP calls for his impeachment without delay. No individual, including the President, should be above the law,” the statement declared.
The controversy was triggered last week when Abdussamad Dasuki, representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State, alleged on the floor of the House that the version of the tax laws passed by the National Assembly differed from the version later gazetted and circulated by the Federal Government.
The tax reform laws, signed by President Tinubu and scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, have been described by the government as the most far-reaching overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
However, they faced stiff resistance during legislative consideration, particularly from northern lawmakers concerned about their economic and regional implications.
The presidency has dismissed claims of secret alterations, insisting that no amount of opposition will stop the implementation of the reforms.
Yet the laws have attracted bashing from prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, both of whom have called for suspension pending clarification of the disputed provisions.
The mounting calls from legal, political, and opposition voices show the deepening crisis over the tax reforms, raising questions about legislative integrity, and the process laws are enacted in this country.
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