The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the 2025 tax laws, alleging that key provisions were altered after passage by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the government of engaging in what he described as a “forgery” of the laws. He alleged that several provisions were either deleted or newly inserted, including what the party termed “criminal insertions” that allegedly grant the administration of President Bola Tinubu sweeping powers to arrest individuals and seize property for non-compliance with tax laws.
“The ADC therefore calls for the immediate suspension of all the 2025 tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu to allow for a full legislative review,” the party said. Abdullahi, a former member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warned that failure to act could undermine the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
According to the ADC, a “forensic review” comparing the versions of the laws passed by the National Assembly with the gazetted copies revealed that key accountability provisions were removed, while new clauses were allegedly inserted. The party claimed these changes grant coercive enforcement powers to the Executive without adequate judicial oversight.
The ADC argued that the alleged alterations go beyond taxation and reflect what it described as a disregard for democratic institutions. The party also called for a full investigation and the prosecution of any government officials found responsible for the alleged forgery. The statement was issued under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark, who now heads the party.
President Tinubu had assented to four tax reform bills in June after months of debate and public scrutiny. The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. The government has slated January 2026 for their implementation.
Concerns over the laws intensified recently after a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged that the gazetted versions differed from what lawmakers approved. Following this, opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, joined calls for the suspension of the laws.
However, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed the allegations, insisting that the Federal Government is not introducing new laws and that the reform process remains transparent.
