Afam Osigwe, president of the Nigerian Bar Association, has demanded a pause in the scheduled enforcement of the tax acts, amid allegations that the bills signed into law by President Bola Tinubu were doctored after legislative approval.
The NBA has called for the suspension of the tax reform, pending an investigation into alleged discrepancies between the version passed and approved by the National Assembly and the gazetted version made available to the public.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the NBA president said in a statement on Monday.
The legal body highlighted that the alleged alterations in the tax laws have already eroded public trust and that the assertions made by Sokoto lawmaker Abdulsammad Dasuki must not be swept under the carpet.
“The Nigerian Bar Association @NigBarAssoc 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,” said the statement.
On Wednesday, Mr Dasuki alleged a breach of his legislative powers, noting that the gazetted tax act in the public domain differed from what was passed by the House of Representatives.
“Mr Speaker, honourable colleagues, what was passed on this floor is not what is gazetted. I’m coming under privilege, because I was here. I gave my vote, and it was counted, and I’m seeing something completely different,” Mr Dasuki said on December 17.
The NBA said the accusations of doctoring the act after legislative approval “unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law”.
