The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has urged the federal government to postpone the implementation of the new tax law for at least six months, to give room for a through investigation of the reported doctoring of the document.
According to the PDP faction led by Taminu Turaki, the probe must ensure that the version of the Tax Law passed by the National Assembly, is the one signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and set to be implemented from January 2026.
The party made the demand in a statement issued by Ini Ememobong, PDP National Publicity Secretary on Thursday, saying the allegation that two versions of the Tax Law are in circulation must be thoroughly investigated.
The PDP said allegation raised by a PDP member in the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, must not be swept under the carpet, describing the allegation as a criminal act capable of eroding public interest in the government.
The party said the federal government must explain to Nigerians how the Tax Law gazetted by the APC-led government is different from the version passed by NASS.
“This disparity must be comprehensively investigated and not treated with the customary levity that this administration has shown toward very serious issues of governance.
“Nigerians are interested in knowing how the insertions and substitutions got into the gazetted copy,” the PDP said.
Adding, “The leadership of the House of Representatives must not attempt to sweep it under the carpet, as it has done with the now popular rumour that the country is operating two budgets within a fiscal year.
“This criminal act of inserting unenacted sections in laws can erode public trust in the enactments of parliament”, the party stated in a reaction though its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, in Abuja on Thursday.”
The party stressed that the federal government must shelve it plans to start the execution of the tax Law from January next year, saying this will not only give enough room for a thorough investigation of the allegation, it will give the government ample time to educate Nigerians on the new tax law.
“Consequently, we demand that the commencement date of the tax Act be shifted from January 1, 2026, for at least six months to allow sufficient time for the investigation of this anomaly, publication and circulation of the enacted version, and more importantly, the mounting of sufficient enlightenment campaigns on the new Act.”
On Thursday, the House of Representatives empowered an adhoc committee to investigate the alleged discrepancies between the new tax law and the bill passed by the National Assembly.
The Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudden who announced the setting up of the Committee during plenary assured that all necessary action will be taken to unravel the actual circumstances surrounding the alleged discrepancies.
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