PDP logo and President Bola Tinubu
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has renewed its call for the suspension of the commencement date of the newly enacted Tax Act, citing what it described as serious discrepancies between the harmonised version approved by the National Assembly and the gazetted law.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said Nigerians from different backgrounds have strongly objected to what it called the “smuggling” of dangerous provisions into the Tax Act—sections it said were earlier removed by Parliament during legislative deliberations.
According to the PDP, citizens have demanded a full-scale investigation into the alleged irregularities, seeking clarity on who carried out the illegal insertions and the process through which they were introduced.
The party, however, faulted the Presidency for what it described as a deliberate attempt to downplay the controversy, while insisting that the commencement date of the Tax Act must remain unchanged despite the identified discrepancies.
The PDP argued that this posture exposes the priorities of the current administration, claiming that financial considerations have consistently been placed above the welfare and well-being of Nigerians since the government assumed office in 2023. It cited the removal of fuel subsidy as an example, describing the policy’s announcement and implementation as reckless, with immediate and severe consequences for the economy and ordinary citizens.
The opposition party reminded President Bola Tinubu that he holds office as an employee of the Nigerian people and, as such, has a duty to listen to their concerns. It further noted that the President emerged from the 2023 election with less than 40 per cent of the total votes cast, stressing that public opinion should therefore be central to his administration’s decision-making process rather than the interests of a few individuals around him.
The PDP also drew attention to events in 2012, when a PDP-led federal government reversed aspects of fuel subsidy removal following widespread protests by Nigerians and civil society organisations. It noted that President Tinubu played a prominent role during those protests, urging him to apply the same standard of responsiveness to public sentiment now.
Consequently, the party reiterated its demand for the suspension of the Tax Act’s commencement date until a comprehensive investigation into the alleged insertions is concluded.
According to the PDP, respect for laws in a democracy is closely tied to public confidence that elected legislators thoroughly debated and approved them. It warned that even the suspicion that unapproved sections were secretly added to a law with nationwide implications is sufficient justification to halt its implementation.
The party concluded that the President must act in the interest of Nigerians, stressing that failure to do so would further reinforce the perception that money, not the people, remains the administration’s top priority.
