The African Democratic Congress has called for the immediate suspension of the tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu and scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, over allegations that the final versions contain provisions not passed by the National Assembly.
The party made the call in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, warning that tampering with legislation after its passage posed a serious threat to constitutional governance.
The ADC said reports surrounding the tax laws had confirmed its fears that substantial provisions were allegedly forged into the final versions signed by the President.
It claimed that a forensic comparison of the original bills and the gazetted laws showed that some accountability provisions were removed, while new clauses granting coercive enforcement powers to the executive were inserted.
According to the party, one of the alleged insertions empowered the government to arrest individuals and take over property for non-compliance with the tax laws without court orders.
The ADC reiterated its opposition to tax policies it said would worsen the hardship faced by citizens and businesses across the country.
It, however, argued that the issue went beyond taxation, describing the alleged alterations as an attack on democratic institutions and the principle of separation of powers.
The party maintained that only the legislature has the constitutional authority to make laws and warned against any attempt by the executive to arrogate such powers to itself.
The ADC therefore demanded the immediate suspension of all the 2025 tax laws to allow the National Assembly carry out a full legislative review.
It also called for a public inquiry into the alleged forgery and the prosecution of any government officials found culpable.