NBA demands suspension of controversial tax laws
NBA demands suspension of controversial tax laws
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the implementation of the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, citing widespread controversies that have cast serious doubts on the credibility of the legislative process that produced the laws.
In a statement issued on behalf of the association, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, said the circumstances surrounding the passage of the tax laws have raised grave concerns about transparency, integrity and procedural compliance in Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
According to him, laws of such far-reaching economic and social significance must be products of open, accountable and constitutionally sound procedures.
Mr Osigwe noted that the controversies have not only generated public mistrust but have also called into question the sanctity of the National Assembly’s legislative procedures.
He warned that allowing the laws to take effect amid unresolved disputes would further undermine confidence in democratic governance.
“The controversies that have emerged in relation to the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process,” the statement, titled “Tax Reform Acts controversies cast doubts on sanctity of Nigeria’s lawmaking process,” read.
“These developments strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity that must attend lawmaking in a democratic society,” it added.
The NBA stressed the need for a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances under which the laws were enacted.
The association said such an inquiry is necessary to restore public confidence in both the legislative process and the substance of the reforms.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the NBA said.
The association also warned that legal and policy uncertainty surrounding the tax reforms could have serious economic consequences.
According to Mr Osigwe, unclear or disputed laws create instability, unsettle the business environment, erode investor confidence and impose unpredictability on individuals, businesses and institutions expected to comply with them.
“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude has far-reaching consequences. It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law,” the statement said.
The NBA described such uncertainty as inimical to economic stability and incompatible with a system governed by the rule of law.
Calling on relevant authorities to act swiftly, the association urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to address the issues responsibly in the overriding interest of constitutional order, economic stability and the preservation of the rule of law.
“Nigeria’s constitutional democracy demands that laws, especially those with profound economic and social implications, emerge from processes that are transparent, accountable, and beyond reproach,” the NBA said, warning that anything less would weaken public trust and the foundations of lawful governance.
