KEY POINTS
• Atiku says provisions were added to the tax law without National Assembly approval
• He alleges the changes expand enforcement powers while removing oversight
• He calls on the executive, legislature, judiciary and anti graft agencies to act
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of illegally altering Nigeria’s tax reform legislation after it was passed by the National Assembly, describing the alleged move as an assault on constitutional order and democratic norms.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Atiku said what lawmakers approved was materially different from what emerged as law, arguing that the changes amounted to forgery and executive overreach. He described the alleged action as treason against Nigerians, insisting that only the legislature has the authority to make laws under the constitution.
According to Atiku, the alleged alterations undermine legislative supremacy and reveal an administration more focused on extracting revenue from citizens than improving economic conditions.
Claims of added powers and removed safeguards
Atiku said the executive branch inserted provisions that were never debated or approved by lawmakers, accusing the government of violating constitutional procedures outlined in Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution.
He alleged that new enforcement powers were added to the tax law, including authority for tax officials to make arrests, seize property and conduct enforcement sales without court orders. Such measures, he said, turn tax agencies into law enforcement bodies while weakening due process protections deliberately built into the bill by legislators.
The former vice president also raised concerns about financial provisions he said would place heavier burdens on individuals and businesses. These include a mandatory security deposit before appeals, compound interest on tax debts, stricter reporting requirements and compulsory dollar based calculations for petroleum operations.
He argued that the measures would discourage taxpayers from challenging unfair assessments and increase compliance costs at a time when inflation, unemployment and poverty remain pressing national challenges.
Atiku further accused the administration of stripping accountability mechanisms from the law, including reporting obligations to the National Assembly and ministerial oversight provisions. He said removing these checks concentrates power within the executive and weakens democratic accountability.
He called on the presidency to suspend implementation of the law scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, pending a thorough investigation. He also urged the National Assembly to correct what he described as illegal alterations and hold those responsible accountable.
Atiku appealed to the judiciary to invalidate unconstitutional provisions and to anti corruption agencies to investigate the alleged forgery, warning that allowing unpassed provisions to stand would erode the rule of law and public trust in governance.
