Tax Act Controversy: Ndume Urges Tinubu to Suspend January Implementation

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the planned January implementation of the new Tax Act until controversies surrounding it are fully resolved.

The appeal follows claims by a member of the House of Representatives that the version of the Tax Act passed by the National Assembly differs from the one later gazetted by the President. The allegation prompted the House to set up an investigative committee, especially given the proposed January 1 implementation date.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Ndume urged the President to suspend the rollout to allow for a thorough probe into the claims and counterclaims of alleged alterations to the tax laws. His call aligns with growing demands from politicians, civil society organisations, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the suspension of the Act.

The NBA, through its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), had warned that the controversy could undermine the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process, insisting on a comprehensive investigation.

Ndume advised President Tinubu to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegations, warning that proceeding with implementation without addressing the issue could erode the legitimacy of the law.

“As a responsive leader that he has always been, he should look at it to find out if the copy that was signed, whether the claim of alterations was genuine, so that he will do the needful to bring the controversy to rest,” Ndume said.

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

“So, Mr. President should suspend the implementation until the issues are resolved because so many civil society organisations, the Arewa Community, the Nigerian Bar Association, are saying that he should withdraw the Tax Law and investigate the allegation of forgery.

“Therefore, Mr. President should get to the root of the allegation of forgery. The small committee that will be set up should look into it while the House of Representatives does its own.”

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