Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the controversy surrounding the newly enacted Tax Reform Acts and suspend their planned implementation in January.
Ndume made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja amid growing claims and counterclaims over the authenticity of the tax laws signed by the president.
He noted that several opposition politicians and civil society organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have raised concerns and called for the suspension of the laws’ implementation pending clarification of the issues.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), warned that the controversies threaten the integrity, transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.
According to him, the allegations strike at the core of constitutional governance.
“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process,” Osigwe said.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended.”
The controversy intensified last week when a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, drew the attention of the chamber to alleged alterations in the tax laws.
Dasuki claimed that the version officially gazetted by the Federal Government differed from the final copy passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to President Tinubu for assent.
Reacting, Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, urged the President to constitute an ad hoc committee to verify the veracity of the allegations.
He warned that proceeding with implementation without resolving the matter could undermine the legitimacy of the laws.
“With the controversy surrounding it, the President should constitute a team to verify the veracity of the claim and act accordingly,” Ndume said.
“As a responsive leader that he has always been, he should examine whether the copy that was signed is the same as what was passed by the National Assembly.”
The former Senate Chief Whip cautioned that failure to address the allegations would prolong the controversy and stall the effective implementation of the tax laws.
“If the issue is not resolved, the controversy will continue. That is to say, the tax law will not be implemented, because you cannot build on nothing,” he added.
Ndume also pointed out that several groups, including civil society organisations, the Arewa community, and the NBA, have called for the withdrawal of the tax laws pending an investigation into the alleged forgery.
He therefore advised the President to suspend implementation while a small investigative committee examines the claims, alongside ongoing efforts by the House of Representatives to probe the matter.
