A citizen advocacy group, Citizen Monitors, has called for an investigation into allegations that the 2025 Tax Law was forged, citing a threat to constitutional governance and public trust. The group condemned the Federal Government’s silence on the matter, emphasizing that any tax law not validly passed by the legislature and assented to cannot be enforced in a democracy.
According to Olajumoke Alawode-James, spokesperson and Head of Communications for Citizen Monitors, “A tax law not validly passed by the legislature and assented to cannot be enforced in any democracy. This is an attempt to replace legality with convenience, and it is unacceptable.” The organization stressed that Nigerian law is explicit on legislative procedures, particularly on taxation, and that any parallel or forged framework has no legal standing.
The group warned that enforcing such a document undermines transparency, due process, and legislative authority, while exposing citizens to arbitrary enforcement. Citizen Monitors noted that the creation or circulation of forged public documents constitutes a criminal offense under Sections 465 to 467 of the Criminal Code Act, as well as similar provisions in the Penal Code, with serious penalties attached.
Co-founder of Citizen Monitors, Adeshop Haastrup, described the situation as criminal, stating that those responsible must be investigated and prosecuted. “What has happened is criminal. In any serious country, those who draft, circulate, or enforce a forged law are investigated and prosecuted. If a government confronted by allegations of forgery will not confront the forgery of laws, what hope remains for the rule of law?” Haastrup asked.
The group is calling for an independent investigation to determine how the alleged forged or irregular document entered official use, as well as prosecution and accountability for all individuals and agencies involved in drafting, circulating, or enforcing the invalid law. Citizen Monitors reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and citizen participation, urging civil society organizations, professional bodies, and the media to demand clarity and justice on the matter.
The controversy over the tax reforms has been building for months, with civil society groups urging the federal government to clarify provisions of the new tax regime. The tax reforms aim to overhaul the nation’s tax system, eliminate duplications, and potentially broaden the tax base. However, the laws have faced legal resistance, and a Federal High Court recently upheld their implementation despite public protests. A House of Representatives committee confirmed that there were alterations in some of the tax laws between the versions passed by the National Assembly and those distributed later, raising concerns about legal certainty and public confidence in Nigeria’s legislative process.
