NBA, Atiku Seek Suspension of Tax Laws Over Gazette Discrepancies
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the newly signed Tax Reform Acts, citing alleged discrepancies between the versions passed by the National Assembly and those published in the official gazette.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NBA expressed concern that some provisions contained in the gazetted laws appear to differ from what lawmakers approved, raising serious questions about legislative integrity and due process.
The association warned that allowing any law to take effect in a form different from what was duly passed by the legislature could undermine the rule of law and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in on the controversy, urging authorities to immediately halt the implementation of the tax laws until the alleged alterations are fully investigated and clarified.
Atiku stressed that laws must reflect the exact intentions of the lawmakers who passed them, noting that any post-passage changes without legislative approval are unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.
The controversy has sparked widespread debate among legal experts, civil society groups, and policymakers, with calls for greater transparency in the law-making and gazetting process.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government has not issued an official response to the allegations.
