Resolve tax law controversy before implementation, Ndume urges Tinubu
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address and settle the dispute surrounding the forthcoming Tax Act prior to its enforcement.
The contention emerged after a House of Representatives member expressed concerns that the version of the Tax Act approved by the National Assembly differs from the one released by President Tinubu.
In response to the allegation, the House of Representatives formed a committee to investigate the claims, especially given the intended implementation date of January 1st for the Act.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, Ndume urged the President to delay the implementation scheduled for January, allowing for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations and counterclaims regarding purported changes to the tax legislation.
Ndume’s recommendation comes amid increasing calls from politicians, Civil Society Organizations, and the Nigerian Bar Association for the suspension of the Tax Act.
Specifically, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), cautioned that the disputes regarding the Act jeopardize the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process, and he called for a thorough investigation.
In his appeal, Ndume encouraged President Tinubu to form an ad-hoc team to look into the allegations, emphasizing that moving forward with implementation without resolving the issue would lead to legitimacy concerns for the tax regulations.
He stated, “As a responsive leader that he has consistently demonstrated, he should investigate whether the signed copy reflects genuine alterations, to address the controversy definitively. Otherwise, the dispute will persist. This means that the tax law cannot be enacted because you cannot build on a flawed foundation.
“Therefore, Mr. President should halt the implementation until these matters are clarified, as numerous civil society organizations, the Arewa Community, and the Nigerian Bar Association are calling for the withdrawal of the Tax Law and an inquiry into the forgery allegations.
“Consequently, Mr. President should delve into the forgery accusation. A small committee should be established to investigate it while the House of Representatives conducts its own inquiry.”
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