The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate suspension of the tax laws introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Gossip News Now reports that the opposition party’s call follows claims that the final version of the laws contains significant alterations, including provisions allegedly forged and not included in the bills originally passed by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC warned that tampering with legislation after it has been duly passed by the legislature suggests an attempt by President Tinubu to concentrate excessive powers in the executive arm of government.
The party urged the immediate suspension of the tax laws to enable the National Assembly to determine the extent of the alleged alterations and take appropriate corrective measures.
It also called for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding what it described as criminal amendments to the laws, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.
The statement reads in part:
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has examined several reports which confirm longstanding concerns that the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu contain substantial forgeries of key provisions that were never approved by the legislature.
“Our forensic comparison of the original bills and the gazetted versions shows clearly that critical accountability clauses were removed, while new provisions were inserted granting the executive coercive enforcement powers without recourse to the courts. One such insertion allegedly authorises the Tinubu administration to arrest individuals and seize property for non-compliance with the tax laws.
“ADC has consistently opposed tax measures that are likely to worsen the hardship already confronting citizens and businesses. However, this matter goes beyond taxation. It reflects a disturbing mindset of a government that disregards ethical standards, democratic institutions, and constitutional boundaries in pursuit of narrow interests.
“Altering legislation after it has been passed by 469 elected representatives of the Nigerian people is a direct attack on constitutional governance. More importantly, it reveals authoritarian tendencies by a president seeking to centralise power, even if it means violating the constitution from which his authority is derived.
“For the avoidance of doubt, lawmaking is the exclusive preserve of the legislature. Any law not enacted in line with constitutional provisions is invalid. Allowing the executive to insert or remove any part of a law after passage would amount to usurping legislative powers and poses a grave threat to democracy.
“The ADC therefore calls for the immediate suspension of all 2025 tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu to allow for a comprehensive legislative review. This is necessary to preserve the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the constitution.
“We also demand a full investigation and the prompt prosecution of any government official found culpable in this act of forgery, which strikes at the very foundation of our democracy.”
