‘Forgery Of Tinubu’s Tax Laws, Act Of Treason Against Nigerians’, Atiku Blasts Presidency

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Federal Government of committing what he described as an “act of treason against the Nigerian people” following allegations of illegal alterations to the new tax reform laws recently passed by the National Assembly.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku said the alleged unauthorised amendments made to the tax legislations after parliamentary approval constituted a direct assault on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and the principle of separation of powers.

“The illegal and unauthorised alterations made to Nigeria’s tax legislation after passage by the National Assembly represent a brazen act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on our constitutional democracy,” Atiku said.

According to him, the alleged changes inserted without legislative consent granted “coercive powers” to tax authorities, imposed new financial burdens on citizens, and removed vital oversight mechanisms, in violation of Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution.

The former Vice President listed several contentious provisions allegedly inserted into the tax laws, including granting arrest and property seizure powers to tax authorities without court orders; mandating a 20% security deposit before appealing tax assessments and introducing compound interest on unpaid tax debts.

Other alleged provisions were lowering reporting thresholds for businesses, and removing quarterly accountability reports to the National Assembly.

“These provisions transform tax collectors into quasi-law enforcement agencies, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that the National Assembly deliberately included,” Atiku noted.

He added that the removal of ministerial and parliamentary oversight “insulates the government from accountability while expanding its powers, a hallmark of authoritarian governance.”

Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of prioritising revenue extraction over citizen welfare, arguing that the government’s tax policy deepens poverty instead of stimulating growth.

“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,” he said.

“True economic growth comes from empowering citizens, not impoverishing them further through punitive taxation and erosion of legal protections.”

The former Vice President lamented that high poverty and unemployment rates, combined with inflationary pressures, have left many Nigerians unable to cope, yet the government “chooses the path of aggressive extraction from an already struggling populace.”

Atiku urged President Tinubu to suspend implementation of the controversial tax laws scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, pending a full investigation into the alleged alterations.

He also called on the National Assembly to rectify the illegal insertions and hold those responsible accountable while tasking the Judiciary to strike down the unconstitutional provisions and defend legislative supremacy

The 2023 presidential candidate urged the Civil Society and citizens to reject what he called an “assault on democratic principles”, and charged the Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute those involved in the “forgery of the nation’s tax law.”

“What the National Assembly did not pass cannot become law. This fundamental principle must be defended, or we risk descending into arbitrary rule where constitutional safeguards mean nothing,” Atiku warned.

He concluded by urging the Federal Government to “abandon this path of extraction and oppression” and instead adopt policies that promote productivity, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.

“The Nigerian people deserve better than a government that circumvents democracy to impose hardship,” he stated.

“We demand accountability, constitutional compliance, and economic policies that build prosperity rather than deepen poverty.”