Sen Ali Ndume has called on President Bola Tinubu to delay the enforcement of the controversial Tax Reform Acts set to begin in January due to escalating debate surrounding their approval.
Ndume issued the statement on Wednesday in Abuja, addressing claims and counterclaims regarding supposed modifications to the tax laws post their approval by the National Assembly.
The appeal arises during demonstrations by opposition politicians and civil society groups, such as the Nigerian Bar Association, which have called for the Federal Government to stop enforcing the laws.
Responding, Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, called on Tinubu to create an ad hoc committee to assess the legitimacy of the laws and probe the claimed modifications.
The former Senate Chief Whip warned that implementing the laws without resolving the allegations would create legitimacy challenges and undermine public trust.
He said, “With the controversy surrounding it, the President should constitute a team to verify the veracity of the claim and act accordingly.
“As the responsive leader that he has always been, he should look into it to find out whether the claim of alterations was genuine so that he will do the needful to bring the controversy to rest.
“If not, the controversy will continue. That is to say, the tax law will not be implemented, because you can’t build on nothing. So, Mr. President should suspend the implementation until the issues are resolved because so many civil society organizations, the Arewa Community, and the Nigerian Bar Association are saying that he should withdraw the tax law and investigate the allegation of forgery.
“Therefore, Mr. President should get to the root of the allegation of forgery. The small committee that will be set up should look into it while the House of Representatives does its own.”
On Tuesday, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), cautioned that the disputes over the tax laws jeopardize the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative system.
Osigwe remarked that the matters impact the foundation of constitutional governance and urged for a transparent and open inquiry to rebuild public trust.
The debate intensified last week when House of Representatives member Abdussamad Dasuki claimed that the version of the tax legislation published by the Federal Government differed from the final document approved by the National Assembly and sent to the President for approval.
