Atiku accuses FG of altering tax reform law, calls for immediate suspension

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Federal Government of illegally altering President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform legislation after its passage by the National Assembly.

Atiku described the alleged action as an act of treason against Nigerians and a threat to constitutional democracy.

The former vice president made this known via a statement issued on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

He alleged that substantive provisions not approved by lawmakers were inserted into the tax bills, in violation of Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution, which vest lawmaking powers in the legislature.

Atiku listed the alleged alterations to include granting arrest powers to tax authorities, allowing property seizure and enforcement sales without court orders, and introducing coercive measures that strip citizens of due process protections.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate also criticised what he described as increased financial burdens imposed on Nigerians and businesses through the amended law.

These, according to Atiku, include a mandatory 20 per cent security deposit before appealing tax assessments, compound interest on tax debts, stricter reporting requirements, and forced dollar-based computation for petroleum operations.

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Atiku stressed that the measures would make it difficult for ordinary Nigerians to challenge unfair tax assessments while increasing compliance costs for businesses operating in an already harsh economic environment.

Calling for immediate action, Atiku urged the federal government to suspend the implementation of the tax law scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, pending a full investigation.

He also enjoined the National Assembly to rectify the alleged alterations through proper legislative processes and hold those responsible accountable.

The former vice president appealed to the judiciary to strike down any unconstitutional provisions and called on civil society organisations and Nigerians to resist what he described as an assault on democratic principles.

Atiku equally urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in the alleged illegal alteration of the law.

He stated: “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.”

The Star