BREAKING: FORGERY OF TINUBU’S TAX REFORM LAW IS TREASON AGAINST NIGERIANS — ATIKU ABUBAKAR

BREAKING: FORGERY OF TINUBU’S TAX REFORM LAW IS TREASON AGAINST NIGERIANS — ATIKU ABUBAKAR

BREAKING: FORGERY OF TINUBU’S TAX REFORM LAW IS TREASON AGAINST NIGERIANS — ATIKU ABUBAKAR

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly condemned the alleged illegal alteration of Nigeria’s tax reform laws, describing it as an act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on constitutional democracy.

The unauthorized changes reportedly made to the tax bills after their passage by the National Assembly represent a dangerous abuse of executive power and a clear violation of Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution. Such actions undermine legislative supremacy and weaken public confidence in democratic governance.

These alleged alterations fundamentally changed the intent and substance of the tax laws without parliamentary approval. Reports indicate that new coercive powers were inserted, including arrest powers for tax authorities, property seizure and garnishment without court orders, and enforcement sales carried out without judicial oversight. These provisions dangerously transform tax agencies into quasi–law enforcement bodies, stripping Nigerians of due process protections deliberately preserved by lawmakers.

The alterations are also said to have increased the financial burden on citizens and businesses. They include the imposition of a mandatory 20 percent security deposit before tax appeals can be heard, the introduction of compound interest on tax liabilities, expanded quarterly reporting requirements with reduced thresholds, and the forced computation of petroleum operations in United States dollars. These measures erect unfair barriers that prevent ordinary Nigerians from challenging unjust assessments and further strain businesses operating in an already fragile economy.

Equally troubling is the reported removal of accountability mechanisms. Oversight provisions such as quarterly and annual reporting to the National Assembly, strategic planning submission requirements, and ministerial supervisory controls were allegedly deleted. By stripping away these safeguards while expanding executive authority, the government appears to have insulated itself from accountability, a pattern commonly associated with authoritarian governance.

This constitutional violation exposes a government seemingly more focused on extracting revenue from struggling Nigerians than on creating conditions for shared prosperity. At a time when poverty levels remain high, unemployment continues to devastate families, and inflation erodes purchasing power, punitive taxation and weakened legal protections only deepen hardship.

True economic growth comes from empowering citizens and businesses, investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and productivity, and allowing prosperity to expand the tax base naturally. Resorting to constitutional manipulation for short-term fiscal gains reflects a troubling absence of vision and commitment to democratic principles.

Atiku Abubakar therefore calls on the Executive to immediately suspend the implementation of the tax law scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, to allow for a thorough investigation. He urges the National Assembly to urgently rectify the illegal alterations through proper legislative processes and ensure that those responsible for this breach are held accountable. He calls on the Judiciary to strike down all unconstitutional provisions and reaffirm the sanctity of the legislative process.

He also appeals to civil society groups and all Nigerians to reject this assault on democracy and demand governance that serves the people rather than exploits them. Furthermore, he calls on the government to abandon policies of extraction and oppression and instead pursue reforms that enable citizens and businesses to thrive. He urges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to immediately investigate and prosecute all individuals found culpable in the illegal alteration of Nigeria’s laws for the purpose of extortion and fraud.

What the National Assembly did not pass cannot become law. This fundamental principle must be defended to prevent Nigeria from descending into arbitrary rule where constitutional safeguards are rendered meaningless.

The Nigerian people deserve better than a government that circumvents democracy to impose hardship. They demand accountability, constitutional compliance, and economic policies that build prosperity rather than deepen poverty.