Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of committing what he described as a “brazen act of treason” against Nigerians, alleging that the recently passed tax reform laws were illegally altered after approval by the National Assembly.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, Atiku said the alleged post-legislative modifications amount to a grave constitutional breach and an assault on Nigeria’s democratic foundations, warning that the country risks sliding into authoritarian rule if the actions are not urgently addressed.
“The illegal and unauthorized alterations made to Nigeria’s tax legislation after passage by the National Assembly represent a brazen act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on our constitutional democracy,” Atiku declared.
Alleged Breach of the Constitution
Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007, said the alterations violate Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution, which vest lawmaking powers exclusively in the legislature.
According to him, provisions allegedly inserted without legislative approval significantly expanded the powers of tax authorities, turning them into quasi-law enforcement agencies.
“These provisions transform tax collectors into law enforcement agents, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that the National Assembly deliberately included,” he said.
He listed some of the controversial provisions to include arrest powers for tax officials, seizure and garnishment of property without court orders, and enforcement sales conducted without judicial oversight.
Heavier Burdens on Citizens, Businesses
Atiku also accused the government of using the alleged alterations to impose harsher financial obligations on citizens and businesses at a time of severe economic hardship.
Among the changes he cited were a mandatory 20 per cent security deposit before taxpayers can appeal assessments, the introduction of compound interest on tax debts, lower thresholds for quarterly reporting, and compulsory dollar-based computation for petroleum operations.
“These changes erect financial barriers that prevent ordinary Nigerians from challenging unjust tax assessments, while increasing compliance costs for businesses already struggling in a difficult economy,” he stated.
Removal of Oversight and Accountability
The former vice president further alleged that accountability mechanisms were deliberately removed from the law, including requirements for quarterly and annual reporting to the National Assembly, submission of strategic plans, and ministerial supervisory provisions.
“By stripping away oversight mechanisms while expanding executive powers, the government has insulated itself from accountability — a hallmark of authoritarian governance,” Atiku warned.
‘Government Obsessed With Extraction’
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising aggressive revenue extraction over policies that promote productivity and economic growth.
He lamented that despite rising poverty, unemployment, and inflation, the government had chosen what he described as “draconian measures” rather than investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation.
“True economic growth comes from empowering citizens, not impoverishing them through punitive taxation and erosion of legal protections,” he said.
“A thriving economy with prosperous citizens naturally generates robust tax revenues, but that requires vision and patience, not constitutional manipulation.”
Atiku called for the immediate suspension of the tax law’s implementation, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, to allow for a thorough investigation.
He also urged the National Assembly to urgently reverse the alleged illegal alterations and hold those responsible accountable, while calling on the judiciary to strike down the unconstitutional provisions.
In addition, he appealed to civil society organisations and Nigerians to resist what he described as an assault on democratic principles and demanded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigate and prosecute those involved.
“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,” Atiku said.
He concluded by insisting that Nigerians deserve governance anchored on accountability, constitutional compliance, and economic policies that build prosperity rather than deepen poverty.
– Century Post
