NBA Warns Tax Reform Acts Threaten Legislative Integrity, Calls for Immediate Suspension
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised serious concerns over the enactment of the recently passed Tax Reform Acts, warning that the controversies surrounding the laws undermine the integrity and sanctity of Nigeria’s legislative process.
In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the NBA said the emerging issues strike at the core of constitutional governance, raising troubling questions about transparency, accountability, and due process within the National Assembly.
The association noted that the manner in which the Tax Reform Acts were passed has created legal and procedural uncertainties, threatening public confidence in democratic institutions.
It stressed that lawmaking in a constitutional democracy must follow clear, open, and verifiable procedures, particularly for legislation with significant economic and social impact.
“The controversies surrounding the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process,” the NBA said, adding that such developments erode the procedural sanctity required in a democratic society.
The NBA called for a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the laws’ passage and demanded the immediate suspension of all plans to implement the Tax Reform Acts pending the outcome of the inquiry.
The association warned that allowing the laws to take effect amid unresolved controversies could deepen legal and policy uncertainty, with serious implications for the economy.
“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law,” the NBA said.
It emphasised that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy requires laws, especially those affecting taxation and economic governance, to be enacted through transparent and accountable processes.
Anything less, it said, weakens public trust and the foundations of lawful governance.
The NBA urged all relevant authorities to act swiftly and responsibly to resolve the controversy in the interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the rule of law.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
