Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and a coalition of civil society organizations have jointly called for the immediate suspension of the controversial tax reform laws, citing serious allegations of post-passage alterations and demanding an independent investigation.
The laws, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, have been embroiled in controversy since lawmakers from the northern part of the country initially opposed their passage. The dispute deepened after federal legislators recently alleged that substantive changes were made to the bills after they were passed by the National Assembly.
In an interview, Atiku Abubakar called for a halt to implementation pending a full inquiry. “Something is wrong with this country. It is a very serious issue. Something has been appended to the law, and some people have gone ahead to alter it. This is falsification, and it is criminal,” he stated through his media aide, Paul Ibe. He alleged that new criminal provisions had been inserted to target political opponents, warning, “This affirms the state capture the opposition warned about.”
Meanwhile, former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi echoed the call, describing the alleged alterations as a “dangerous escalation from poor governance to outright abuse of the law” and a direct threat to constitutional order. He cautioned that public trust is eroding and argued that citizens should not bear heavier tax burdens under such opaque circumstances.
Both leaders stressed that an independent probe is essential to restore confidence, ensure transparency, and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative and fiscal policy processes.
