Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s new tax law, describing the changes as “a brazen act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on our constitutional democracy.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday on X (Formerly Twitter) , Atiku condemned what he called “unauthorised alterations made to Nigeria’s tax legislation after passage by the National Assembly,” accusing the executive of undermining legislative authority.

“This draconian overreach by the executive branch undermines the foundational principle of legislative supremacy in the making of laws. It reveals a government more interested in extracting wealth from struggling citizens than empowering them to prosper,” he said.

He highlighted specific unconstitutional provisions, including arrest powers for tax authorities, property seizure without court orders, and enforcement sales conducted without judicial oversight, which “transform tax collectors into quasi-law enforcement agencies, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that the National Assembly deliberately included.”

Atiku also criticised financial burdens imposed on citizens, such as mandatory 20% security deposits before appealing tax assessments, compound interest on tax debts, and forced USD computation for petroleum operations.

He said, “These changes erect financial barriers that prevent ordinary Nigerians from challenging unjust assessments while increasing compliance costs for businesses already struggling in a difficult economy.”

He further condemned the removal of accountability mechanisms, stating, “By stripping away oversight mechanisms, the government has insulated itself from accountability while expanding its powers—a hallmark of authoritarian governance.”

Atiku called on government institutions and civil society to act, urging, ”The Executive to immediately suspend the implementation of the tax law effective January 1, 2026 to give room for a proper investigation.

“The National Assembly to immediately rectify these illegal alterations through proper legislative processes and hold accountable those responsible for this constitutional breach.

“The Judiciary to strike down these unconstitutional provisions and reaffirm the sanctity of the legislative process.

“Civil Society and all Nigerians to reject this assault on democratic principles and demand governance that serves the people rather than exploiting them.

“The EFCC to immediately investigate and prosecute those found culpable in the illegal alteration of our laws to extort and defraud the Nigerian people.’’

He concluded by emphasising the importance of legislative integrity saying, ”What the National Assembly did not pass cannot become law.

“This fundamental principle must be defended… The Nigerian people deserve better than a government that circumvents democracy to impose hardship.

“We demand accountability, constitutional compliance, and economic policies that build prosperity rather than deepen poverty.”

The matter started last week when a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, raised concerns, alleging discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and made available to the public.

Dasuki argued that the differences amounted to a breach of lawmakers’ legislative rights, insisting that the gazetted versions did not reflect what was debated and approved on the floor of the House.

PUNCH Online had reported that the Federal Government insists there is only one authentic version of the newly enacted tax reform laws.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated on Monday in Abuja that the version assented to by President Bola Tinubu remains intact.

He dismissed claims that the tax laws had been altered after passage by the National Assembly, saying the laws followed due legislative process, including consultations and debates.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, also dismissed claims of secret alterations, warning of consequences Nigerians could face if the new tax laws are not implemented from January 1.

PUNCH Online had reported that the Federal Government insists there is only one authentic version of the newly enacted tax reform laws.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated on Monday in Abuja that the version assented to by President Bola Tinubu remains intact.

He dismissed claims that the tax laws had been altered after passage by the National Assembly, saying the laws followed due legislative process, including consultations and debates.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, also dismissed claims of secret alterations, warning of consequences Nigerians could face if the new tax laws are not implemented from January 1. (The PUNCH)

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