President Bola Tinubu
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the implementation of the 2025 tax laws, raising serious allegations that key provisions were altered after they were passed by the National Assembly.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi accused the government of tampering with the laws, claiming that “criminal insertions” were made to empower the executive arm beyond constitutional limits.
According to Abdullahi, the alleged alterations include provisions that give the Bola Tinubu administration “the express power to arrest and take over the property of anyone who does not comply with the tax laws.”
“The ADC therefore calls for the immediate suspension of all the 2025 tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu to allow for a full legislative review,” the party said.
Abdullahi warned that proceeding with the laws under such circumstances could undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order. “This is the only reasonable course of action if we must not give the dangerous impression that the principle of separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution can be sidestepped by the President,” he added.
The opposition party said its position followed what it described as a “forensic” comparison of the versions of the bills passed by the National Assembly and the copies later gazetted. According to the ADC, the review “established beyond all doubt that key accountability provisions were deleted and new provisions inserted.”
The party further alleged that the changes handed “coercive powers to the Executive in the enforcement of the tax laws without recourse to the courts,” arguing that the issue goes far beyond taxation.
“It speaks to the criminal mindset of a government that has no ethical boundaries, has no regard for democratic institutions, and will do anything to pursue its narrow, selfish agenda,” the statement said.
The ADC, led by former Senate President David Mark, also demanded accountability. “We also call for a full investigation, and the immediate prosecution of any government official found culpable in the execution of this act of forgery that strikes at the very heart of our democracy,” the party declared.
President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law in June, following months of heated debates among lawmakers and public scrutiny. The laws include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. Implementation has been slated for January 2026.
However, controversy erupted recently after a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged that some provisions in the gazetted laws differed from what lawmakers approved.
The claims have since drawn reactions from opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, as well as other legislators, all calling for a suspension of the laws pending clarification.
Responding to the growing concerns, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, insisted that the Federal Government was not introducing new laws, dismissing claims of manipulation.
Despite the assurance, pressure continues to mount on the government to address the allegations and restore public confidence in the tax reform process.
