Tax Reform Law: “Act of Treason," Atiku Flays Tinubu, Others Over Alleged Forgery of Provisions
- Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the federal government of presiding over what he described as the illegal alteration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reform legislation
- Atiku warned that the alleged changes amount to “an act of treason against the Nigerian people” and a violation of the constitution
- Atiku alleged that provisions not passed by the national assembly were inserted into the tax bills after legislative approval, thereby undermining the authority of parliament and due process in law-making
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering elections, politics, public affairs and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has asserted that the "forgery" of President Bola Tinubu's tax reform law is "an act of treason against the Nigerian people."
The former vice president made the statement on Tuesday, December 23, in a document he personally signed, which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by his media team.
Source: Facebook
According to the presidential hopeful, "the illegal and unauthorised alterations made" to Nigeria's tax legislation after passage by the national assembly "represents a brazen act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on our constitutional democracy."
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain also alleged a "draconian overreach" by the executive arm of government, which, according to him, "undermines the foundational principle of legislative supremacy in the making of laws."
Legit.ng recalls that recently, Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the house of representatives from Sokoto State, claimed that the gazetted tax laws available to Nigerians are different from the laws passed by the national assembly.
In response, the house of representatives constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the alleged discrepancies.
In the same vein, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, noted that only one version of the tax laws exists. The minister said the matter is now within the jurisdiction of the national assembly, adding that the executive would wait for the outcome of the lawmakers' probe.
Atiku wades into tax law controversy
Reacting to the controversy, Atiku alleged that the Tinubu administration is "more interested in extracting wealth from struggling citizens than empowering them to prosper."
Source: Facebook
He said:
"This constitutional violation exposes a troubling reality: a government obsessed with imposing ever-increasing tax burdens on impoverished Nigerians rather than creating conditions for prosperity. Instead of investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment that would expand the tax base organically, this administration chooses the path of aggressive extraction from an already struggling populace."
Read more on Atiku vs Tinubu:
- Tinubu fumes as Atiku accuses him of “stealing his presidency"
- Plot to unseat Tinubu: 'What Atiku’s coalition should focus on', top lawyer explains
- Plot to unseat Tinubu: Atiku gives positive update on coalition
Atiku condemns Tinubu’s drug offender clemency
Legit.ng earlier reported that Atiku faulted President Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardon to many convicted criminals, including notorious drug traffickers.
The 79-year-old described the move as a grave moral failure that encourages lawlessness and weakens the justice system.
Atiku, in a statement shared across his verified social media pages, said the development has provoked outrage nationwide.
Source: Legit.ng
