Nigeria’s new tax laws have come under fire from the Nigerian Bar Association and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who are asking for their suspension over claims that the gazetted versions differ from what lawmakers passed.
Sponsored Ads
The controversy centres on alleged changes made after approval by the National Assembly, raising concerns about legality and trust.
The issue surfaced after a lawmaker flagged discrepancies between the passed bills and the published laws. The NBA said this casts doubt on the credibility of the legislative process, while Atiku accused the executive of overstepping its powers and weakening democratic checks.
RELATED STORIES
Related Posts
Sponsored Ads
The dispute involves four tax reform laws signed by President Bola Tinubu in June, with implementation set for January 1, 2026. These include new rules on tax administration, revenue collection, and coordination between federal and state agencies.
Atiku claimed the altered versions introduced tougher enforcement powers, higher financial burdens, and removed oversight safeguards without lawmakers’ approval. He described the situation as dangerous for citizens and called on anti-graft agencies to investigate how the changes occurred.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
Despite the outcry, the National Assembly proceeded on its holiday break without addressing the matter. Lawmakers focused instead on revising and re-enacting the 2024 and 2025 budgets and advancing the 2026 budget to second reading in the Senate.
The Federal Government has defended the tax reforms, saying they aim to simplify taxation and boost productivity. But critics warn that unless the alleged alterations are fully explained, pushing ahead could hurt confidence, unsettle businesses, and deepen public mistrust.
Comments are closed.