Tinubu Rejects Calls to Suspend New Tax Laws, Insists Reforms Will Proceed

Tinubu Rejects Calls to Suspend New Tax Laws, Insists Reforms Will Proceed

President Bola Tinubu has rejected calls to suspend the implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws, insisting that no substantial issue has been established to justify halting the reform process.

In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, Tinubu affirmed that the tax reform laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and others scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will be implemented as planned.

“No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process,” Tinubu said. “Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures.”

The president’s position comes amid growing public debate over alleged discrepancies between the tax acts passed by the National Assembly and versions published in the Official Gazette.

On December 26, the National Assembly ordered a re-gazetting of the tax laws after acknowledging differences between the legislative versions and the published documents. In separate statements, the House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, assured Nigerians that the matter was being addressed within constitutional and statutory limits.

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They explained that the review was being conducted in line with the 1999 Constitution, the Acts Authentication Act, and established parliamentary practice, stressing that the exercise was purely administrative and did not suggest any defect in legislative authority.

“This administrative action is intended solely to authenticate and formally reflect legislative decisions,” the statements said, adding that certified true copies would be made available to stakeholders and the public.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the situation as “a grave constitutional issue,” arguing that any law published in a form not passed by the National Assembly amounts to a nullity.

“A law that was never passed in the form in which it was published is not law,” Atiku said, warning that any post-passage alteration without legislative approval would constitute a constitutional breach.

Despite the controversy, President Tinubu, who is currently on vacation in Europe, reiterated his administration’s commitment to due process and pledged continued collaboration with the National Assembly to resolve any outstanding issues.

“These reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for our country,” Tinubu stated, adding that the new laws are aimed at harmonisation, structural reset, and strengthening the social contract, not increasing tax burdens.

The affected legislations include the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025, and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025.

Tinubu urged stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which he described as firmly in the delivery stage, assuring Nigerians that the reforms are designed to promote prosperity and shared responsibility.

Tinubu Rejects Calls to Suspend New Tax Laws, Insists Reforms Will Proceed