Tax Law Row: Don’t Make January Sacrosanct, Ndume Tells Tinubu

Amidst claims and counterclaims surrounding the Tax Reform Laws, expected to take effect in January, former Senate Leader Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the controversy and suspend the planned implementation date.

Ndume made the appeal in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, calling on the President to halt the January commencement until all issues surrounding the law were thoroughly addressed.

Investigations revealed that opposition politicians and several civil society organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have also demanded the suspension of the implementation of the tax laws.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) said the controversies surrounding the enactment of the laws threaten the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.

According to him, the issues bordered on constitutional governance, stressing the need for a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation to restore public confidence.

“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process.

“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” Osigwe said.

The controversy was further heightened last week when a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised the alarm over alleged alterations to the tax laws.

Dasuki claimed that the version officially gazetted by the Federal Government differed from the final copy passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to President Tinubu for assent.

Reacting, Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, urged the President to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the veracity of the alleged alterations.

The former Senate Chief Whip warned that proceeding with the implementation of the tax laws without resolving the forgery allegations could pose serious legitimacy challenges.

“With the controversy surrounding it, the President should constitute a team to verify the veracity of the claim and act accordingly,” Ndume said.

“As a responsive leader that he has always been, he should look into whether the copy that was signed was the same as what was passed, and if the claim of alteration is genuine, he should do the needful to bring the controversy to rest.

“If not, the controversy will continue. That is to say, the tax law will not be implemented, because you can’t build on nothing,” he added.

Ndume stressed that the President should suspend the implementation of the tax laws until the issues were resolved, noting that several groups, including civil society organisations, the Arewa community and the NBA, have called for the withdrawal of the laws and a full investigation into the alleged forgery.

“Mr President should get to the root of the allegation of forgery. A small committee should be set up to look into it, while the House of Representatives carries out its own investigation,” he added.