NBA, Atiku Demand Suspension of Nigeria’s New Tax Laws Over Alleged Post-Passage Alterations
Concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process have deepened as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged the Federal Government to immediately halt the implementation of the newly enacted Tax Reform Acts amid allegations of post-passage alterations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), warned that the unfolding controversy poses a serious threat to constitutional order and the credibility of lawmaking in Nigeria. He stressed that confidence in the National Assembly must be safeguarded through openness and accountability, PulseNets learnt.
Calling for urgent action, Osigwe demanded a transparent probe into how the tax laws were enacted and subsequently gazetted, noting that unresolved doubts could erode public trust in democratic institutions.
“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process. Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” Osigwe said.
The NBA further cautioned that the uncertainty surrounding the disputed tax reforms could deter investors, disrupt commercial activities, and create widespread confusion among individuals and institutions expected to comply with the laws.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar echoed similar concerns, sharply criticising the alleged alterations and describing them as a “grave assault on legislative supremacy,” according to information obtained by PulseNets.
Atiku accused the executive arm of government of unilaterally introducing stricter enforcement provisions and heavier financial obligations that were never approved by the National Assembly. He alleged that the revised version grants sweeping powers to tax authorities, including arrest powers, property seizures without court orders, and enforcement actions carried out without judicial oversight.
“These provisions transform tax collectors into quasi-law enforcement agencies, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that the National Assembly deliberately included,” Atiku stated.
He also raised alarm over what he described as excessive financial burdens on citizens and businesses, citing provisions such as a mandatory 20 per cent deposit before tax appeals can be heard and more stringent reporting requirements for corporate entities.
The controversy, PulseNets reported, was triggered after a Sokoto State lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, told the House of Representatives that the version of the tax legislation signed into law and gazetted by the Federal Government differed materially from what lawmakers passed.
Following the disclosure, the House constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the allegations and determine whether illegal modifications were made.
Although the Tax Reform Acts are scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2026, both the NBA and Atiku insisted that implementation must be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
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They urged the National Assembly to urgently rectify any unlawful insertions and ensure that all individuals involved are held accountable. Atiku also called on the judiciary to nullify any unconstitutional provisions and appealed to Nigerians and civil society organisations to oppose what he characterised as a dangerous erosion of democratic norms.
“This draconian overreach by the executive branch undermines the foundational principle of legislative supremacy in the making of laws,” he warned.
