The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the implementation of the recently enacted 2025 tax laws, alleging that key provisions of the laws were “forged” after passage by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the Federal Government of altering critical sections of the tax laws through what he described as “criminal insertions,” claiming the changes confer sweeping and coercive powers on the Executive arm of government.
According to the ADC, some of the alleged insertions grant the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu express authority to arrest individuals and take over property for non-compliance with the tax laws, without recourse to the courts.
“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, warning that anything short of this would undermine the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
Abdullahi, a former member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said the party reached its conclusion after what it termed a “forensic review” of the versions of the bills passed by the National Assembly and the gazetted laws, which allegedly revealed that accountability provisions were removed while new clauses were inserted.
The party alleged that the changes grant the Executive unchecked enforcement powers, enabling the application of the tax laws without judicial oversight. It added that the purported alterations extend beyond tax administration and raise serious concerns about democratic governance.
Describing the development in strong terms, the ADC said the alleged forgery reflects “a criminal mindset of a government that has no ethical boundaries, shows no respect for democratic institutions, and is willing to pursue a narrow agenda at all costs.”
The party, led by former Senate President David Mark, also demanded a full investigation into the matter, calling for the immediate prosecution of any government official found culpable in what it described as an attack on the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.
President Tinubu had, in June, assented to four major tax reform bills following months of intense legislative scrutiny and public debate. The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. The Federal Government has slated January 2026 for the commencement of their implementation.
However, controversy surrounding the laws intensified recently after a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised concerns that some provisions in the gazetted versions differed from those approved by the National Assembly.
The allegation has since drawn reactions from opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and several lawmakers, all of whom have called on the Federal Government to suspend implementation pending clarification.
Responding to the controversy, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, maintained that the Federal Government was not introducing new laws, dismissing claims of post-legislative alterations.