The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has alleged that key provisions of recently gazetted tax reform laws were altered after their passage by the National Assembly, describing the development as a serious threat to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the group said the alleged alterations amount to an unlawful takeover of legislative powers by the Executive and called for the immediate suspension of the implementation of the tax laws.
The CNG warned that the changes go beyond editorial adjustments, citing deletions and insertions in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act that fundamentally differ from what lawmakers approved. It said the alterations undermine the separation of powers, due process, and citizens’ right to fair taxation.
The coalition also referenced concerns raised by constitutional lawyer Professor Auwal Yadudu, who warned that such actions weaken constitutional governance and erode public trust in the tax reform process. CNG further alleged that the reforms reflect external economic influences at the expense of Nigerians and questioned the transparency of a memorandum of understanding between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and a French tax agency.
The group demanded the suspension of all tax reform Acts, including the proposed January 1, 2026 take-off date, and called on the National Assembly to conduct a full, transparent investigation comparing the bills passed with the versions gazetted and assented to. It also called for the identification and prosecution of all those involved, warning that failure to act would deepen public mistrust and damage Nigeria’s democracy.
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