Wednesday December 31, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, says the Federal Government risks legal trouble if it proceeds with implementation of the new tax laws without first resolving allegations that some provisions were inserted after the National Assembly passed the bills.
Speaking with journalists in Ilawe Ekiti on Wednesday, December 31, Falana said allegations that certain provisions were secretly inserted into the tax bills have created serious doubts about the authenticity of the laws signed by President Bola Tinubu.
He faulted the Federal Government for failing to use the final days of 2025 to address the controversy and publish verified copies of the tax laws ahead of their planned commencement on January 1, 2026.
“If that was not done, the government will put itself in trouble by deciding to implement the laws. There are interest groups ready to challenge the legitimacy of the laws,” he said.
The tax reforms, signed by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025, are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
They have, however, been mired in controversy following claims that some clauses were “smuggled” into the final texts, making the gazetted versions different from what lawmakers passed.
Tinubu, in a personally signed statement on Tuesday, insisted the rollout would proceed as planned.
He described the reforms as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive and robust fiscal foundation” and said the laws are not meant to raise taxes but to reset and harmonise the system.
He added that implementation is “firmly in the delivery stage,” and that “no substantial issue has been identified that warrants a disruption of the reform process.”
Falana disagreed, arguing that the starting point must be clarity on which versions are authentic.
“The laws cannot take effect until the controversies surrounding the legitimacy of the provisions are addressed.
“There are questions about the authentic tax laws, so which laws are we talking about? Until we have clean copies of the tax laws, you cannot talk about a commencement date.
“There is a serious allegation that some items were smuggled into the new tax laws. Some have described it as forgery. Whichever way you look at it, the National Assembly has itself to blame.
“In this day and age, it is unacceptable that we cannot access bills passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President. Why are the bills not on the website of the National Assembly?
“If you want to run a transparent government, the proceedings of the National Assembly, laws passed by the legislature and signed by the President should be accessible to all,” Falana said.
He also said government must justify tax collection by delivering public goods.
“As taxes are going to be imposed on Nigerians, the federal, state and local governments should be prepared to justify the payment of taxes.
“The government must be prepared to use the taxes to fight poverty, unemployment, insecurity and infrastructural decay that have arrested the development of the economy.
“The government cannot expect Nigerians to pay more taxes if they cannot send their children to school, afford school fees, pay for astronomical medical bills or even buy food,” he said.
Falana further threatened to challenge tax exemptions for companies in free trade zones, describing them as unfair and unconstitutional.
“Under the new laws, some of those who make money and smile to the banks daily are excluded from paying taxes… It is unjust, discriminatory and illegal… Any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution will have to go,” he said.
(FirstNews)
