The Nigerian Bar Association has called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the recently signed Tax Reform Acts, following allegations that parts of the laws were altered after they were passed by the National Assembly.
The association raised the concern on Tuesday in a statement signed by its President, Afam Osigwe, saying the reported changes between the version approved by lawmakers and the gazetted copy pose serious questions about Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
The call followed an earlier claim by a member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State, Abdulsamad Dasuki, who alleged that there were differences between the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions officially published.
Reacting, the NBA said the development raised “grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.”
Osigwe said, “The allegations strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity that must attend lawmaking in a democratic society.”
The association demanded a thorough probe into the matter and insisted that the tax laws should not be enforced until the issues are resolved.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the NBA said.
The body also warned that the controversy could negatively affect the economy, stressing that uncertainty around the laws could scare investors and disrupt business activities.
According to the NBA, “Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude has far-reaching consequences. It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law.”
President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law in June after months of debate. The laws are the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The Federal Government has fixed January 2026 for the implementation of the laws, a decision that has continued to generate public debate.
Several opposition figures and groups, including Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and the African Democratic Party, have also asked the government to suspend the rollout of the tax reforms.
However, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has defended the laws, insisting that they do not introduce new taxes.
The Federal Government has maintained that the reforms will simplify tax processes, remove multiple taxation, improve compliance, and boost productivity across the country.
