The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Nigerian Presidency to suspend the implementation of the newly introduced tax law, citing discrepancies between the version passed by the National Assembly and the gazetted version signed by President Bola Tinubu. This development comes amid concerns raised by the House of Representatives regarding alleged inconsistencies between the tax reform laws enacted by the legislature and the subsequently published versions.

According to reports, the ADC’s Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the call via a post on his official social media handle, highlighting the need for immediate suspension of the tax law, which is slated to come into effect on January 1, 2026. The party’s request is predicated on the discovery of substantial discrepancies between the final version of the law and the original bill passed by the National Assembly.

The tax reform laws in question were recently passed by the National Assembly, but the versions gazetted and signed into law by President Tinubu allegedly contain provisions that were not part of the original legislation. This has sparked concerns among lawmakers, with the House of Representatives sounding the alarm over the discrepancies. The ADC has joined the call for caution, urging the Presidency to suspend the tax law until the discrepancies are resolved.

The controversy surrounding the tax law has significant implications for the country’s fiscal policy and the business community. The alleged discrepancies have raised questions about the legislative process and the integrity of the law-making procedure. As the country prepares for the implementation of the new tax law, the ADC’s call for suspension has added to the growing debate about the need for transparency and accountability in the legislative process.

The suspension of the tax law would provide an opportunity for a thorough review of the legislation, allowing for the resolution of the discrepancies and the ensuring that the final version accurately reflects the intentions of the lawmakers. The development is being closely watched by stakeholders, including businesses and civil society organizations, who are eager to see how the situation unfolds and what measures the government will take to address the concerns raised.