By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate suspension of President Bola Tinubu’s tax laws scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, citing alleged post-legislative alterations.
The opposition party said its demand followed the discovery of what it described as extraneous provisions inserted into the laws after they were duly passed by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued on Saturday, ADC spokesman, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the versions of the tax laws assented to by President Tinubu were significantly different from the harmonised versions approved by both chambers of the legislature.
The party warned that any tampering with legislation after parliamentary passage undermines constitutional governance and suggests an attempt by the executive to usurp legislative authority.
“For avoidance of doubt, under our constitution, only the legislature can make laws. Any legislation not passed in accordance with constitutional provisions cannot stand,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that allowing the executive to alter even minor aspects of a bill after legislative approval would amount to concentrating law-making powers in the presidency, which it said poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
It therefore demanded that all tax laws signed by President Tinubu be suspended immediately to allow for a comprehensive legislative review by the National Assembly.
According to the party, such a review would enable lawmakers to identify and remove provisions allegedly inserted by the executive arm without parliamentary approval.
“This is the only reasonable course of action if we must not create the dangerous impression that the principle of separation of powers can be casually sidestepped by the President,” the ADC stated.
The party further called for a public inquiry to investigate what it described as “criminal alterations” to the laws and to ensure that any officials found culpable are prosecuted.
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It said its position was based on a forensic review of the original bills passed by the legislature and the versions subsequently gazetted, which allegedly revealed the removal of key accountability provisions and the insertion of clauses granting expanded enforcement powers to the executive.
The ADC specifically alleged that one of the inserted provisions authorises the government to arrest individuals and take over property for non-compliance with the tax laws without recourse to the courts.
While reiterating its opposition to tax measures that could worsen economic hardship for citizens and businesses, the party said the issue transcends taxation and touches on respect for democratic institutions.
“Altering laws after they have been passed by 469 elected representatives of the Nigerian people is a direct assault on constitutional governance,” the statement added.
The ADC concluded by calling for a full investigation and immediate prosecution of any government officials involved in the alleged forgery, warning that failure to act could further erode public trust in democratic processes.
