Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the alleged alteration of Nigeria’s newly passed tax laws as an act of treason against the Nigerian people, warning that the controversy poses a serious threat to constitutional democracy.
DAILY POST reports that public outrage has followed claims that provisions contained in the tax bills passed by the National Assembly differ significantly from the version later gazetted by the Presidency.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku condemned the alleged changes, describing them as “illegal and unauthorized alterations” that amount to a “brazen act of treason.” According to him, the action represents a direct assault on the Constitution and undermines legislative authority.
He accused the executive branch of what he termed a “draconian overreach,” arguing that the alleged alterations violate Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution, which vest law-making powers in the National Assembly.
Atiku further alleged that the Presidency inserted several contentious provisions into the bills after legislative approval, including new coercive powers for tax authorities such as arrest powers, property seizure, garnishment without court orders, and enforcement sales conducted without judicial oversight.
“These provisions effectively turn tax officials into quasi-law enforcement agents, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that lawmakers deliberately safeguarded,” he said.
The former Vice President also faulted provisions that reportedly impose heavier financial burdens on citizens and businesses, including a mandatory 20 per cent security deposit before tax appeals, compound interest on tax debts, quarterly reporting with lowered thresholds, and compulsory dollar-based computation for petroleum operations.
He argued that such measures would prevent ordinary Nigerians from challenging unfair tax assessments while increasing compliance costs for already struggling businesses.
Atiku further accused the government of removing accountability mechanisms from the bills, citing the alleged deletion of requirements for quarterly and annual reporting to the National Assembly, elimination of strategic planning submissions, and removal of ministerial oversight provisions.
“By stripping away oversight, the government has insulated itself from accountability while expanding its powers — a hallmark of authoritarian governance,” he said.
Lamenting Nigeria’s high poverty rate, unemployment, and rising inflation, Atiku accused the government of focusing on aggressive revenue extraction rather than empowering citizens to prosper.
“True economic growth comes from empowering citizens, not impoverishing them through punitive taxation and erosion of legal protections,” he stated.
He called on the Presidency to immediately suspend the implementation of the tax law scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, pending a full investigation. He also urged the National Assembly to correct the alleged illegal alterations, the judiciary to strike down unconstitutional provisions, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
“What the National Assembly did not pass cannot become law,” Atiku declared, warning that failure to defend this principle could plunge Nigeria into arbitrary governance where constitutional safeguards no longer matter.
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