Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s newly enacted tax law, describing it as “a brazen act of treason against the Nigerian people and a direct assault on our constitutional democracy.”

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Atiku accused the executive of altering the tax legislation after its passage by the National Assembly, alleging that such actions undermine legislative authority and the principles of democracy.

According to him, specific provisions of the law—such as arrest powers for tax authorities, property seizure without court orders, and enforcement sales conducted without judicial oversight—“turn tax officials into quasi-law enforcement agencies, depriving Nigerians of due process protections deliberately included by lawmakers.”

Atiku also criticised financial measures he said were burdensome to citizens, including mandatory 20 percent security deposits before appealing tax assessments, compound interest on tax debts, and mandatory USD computations for petroleum operations. He argued these changes “erect financial barriers that prevent ordinary Nigerians from challenging unjust assessments while increasing compliance costs for businesses already struggling in a tough economy.”

The former vice president called on government institutions and civil society to intervene. He urged the executive to suspend the law ahead of its planned implementation on January 1, 2026; the National Assembly to rectify the alterations through proper legislative procedures; and the judiciary to strike down unconstitutional provisions. He further called on the EFCC to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the alleged unlawful changes.

Atiku emphasised that “what the National Assembly did not pass cannot become law” and warned that citizens deserve governance that “builds prosperity rather than deepens poverty.”

The controversy began last week when House of Representatives member Abdulsamad Dasuki raised concerns about discrepancies between the tax law passed by the National Assembly and the version later gazetted for public use. Dasuki argued that the differences breached lawmakers’ legislative rights, noting that the gazetted versions did not reflect what was debated and approved in the House.

The Federal Government, however, insists there is only one authentic version of the tax reform laws. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated on Monday that the version assented to by President Bola Tinubu remains intact and followed due legislative processes, including consultations and debates.

Similarly, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, dismissed claims of secret alterations and warned Nigerians of consequences if the new laws are not implemented from January 1.