The African Democratic Congress has called on the Nigerian government to suspend the recently introduced tax laws, alleging that critical sections were altered after legislative approval. The party says that, after the National Assembly passed the bills and President Bola Tinubu signed them into law, unauthorized modifications were made, constituting a breach of constitutional provisions.
National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi issued a statement highlighting the discrepancies between the original bills passed by lawmakers and the versions later released to the public. His remarks followed a point of privilege raised by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki in the House of Representatives, which drew attention to the alleged alterations.
The party conducted a forensic review of the original laws and the gazetted versions, confirming that key accountability provisions were deleted and new clauses granting coercive powers to the Executive were inserted. The African Democratic Congress argues that these changes demonstrate a disregard for democratic institutions and constitutional boundaries, viewing the post‑passage alteration of legislation as a direct assault on constitutional governance and indicative of totalitarian tendencies.
Consequently, the party is demanding a thorough investigation and swift prosecution of any government official found culpable in the alleged forgery. It emphasizes that only the legislature has the power to make laws and that any legislation not passed in accordance with constitutional provisions cannot stand.
To preserve the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution, the African Democratic Congress has demanded the immediate suspension of all 2025 tax laws signed by President Tinubu, allowing for a full legislative review. The allegations of unauthorized modifications have significant implications for Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the rule of law, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in the legislative process. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Nigerian government will respond and what steps will be taken to address concerns about the integrity of the legislative process.
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