Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s new tax law, describing the changes as “a brazen act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on our constitutional democracy.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday on X (Formerly Twitter), Atiku condemned what he called “unauthorised alterations made to Nigeria’s tax legislation after passage by the National Assembly,” accusing the executive of undermining legislative authority.
“This draconian overreach by the executive branch undermines the foundational principle of legislative supremacy in the making of laws. It reveals a government more interested in extracting wealth from struggling citizens than empowering them to prosper,” he said.
He highlighted specific unconstitutional provisions, including arrest powers for tax authorities, property seizure without court orders, and enforcement sales conducted without judicial oversight, which “transform tax collectors into quasi-law enforcement agencies, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that the National Assembly deliberately included.”
Atiku also criticised financial burdens imposed on citizens, such as mandatory 20% security deposits before appealing tax assessments, compound interest on tax debts, and forced USD computation for petroleum operations.
He said, “These changes erect financial barriers that prevent ordinary Nigerians from challenging unjust assessments while increasing compliance costs for businesses already struggling in a difficult economy.”
He further condemned the removal of accountability mechanisms, stating, “By stripping away oversight mechanisms, the government has insulated itself from accountability while expanding its powers—a hallmark of authoritarian governance.”
Atiku called on government institutions and civil society to act, urging, “The Executive to immediately suspend the implementation of the tax law effective January 1, 2026 to give room for a proper investigation.
“The National Assembly to immediately rectify these illegal alterations through proper legislative processes and hold accountable those responsible for this constitutional breach.
“The Judiciary to strike down these unconstitutional provisions and reaffirm the sanctity of the legislative process.
“Civil Society and all Nigerians to reject this assault on democratic principles and demand governance that serves the people rather than exploiting them.
“The EFCC to immediately investigate and prosecute those found culpable in the illegal alteration of our laws to extort and defraud the Nigerian people.’’
