NBA raises concerns over integrity of Nigeria’s lawmaking process amid tax law controversy
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said the controversies surrounding the recently enacted tax reform acts have cast serious doubts on the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
The concern follows a claim by Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State, who alleged on Wednesday that the gazetted versions of the tax laws differ from those passed by the National Assembly.
In response, the House of Representatives set up a seven-member committee to investigate the alleged discrepancies.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its president, Afam Osigwe, the NBA said the issues arising from the passage of the laws “raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process”.
“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,” the statement said.
The association called for a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process.
It also urged that all plans to implement the tax reform acts be suspended until the issues are fully examined and resolved.
“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 NBA said.
“Such uncertainty is inimical to economic stability and should have no place in a system governed by the rule of law.”
The NBA stressed that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy requires that laws—particularly those with significant economic and social implications—be produced through processes that are transparent, accountable, and beyond reproach.
“Anything short of this undermines public trust and weakens the foundation upon which lawful governance rests,” the statement added.
The association called on relevant authorities to “act swiftly and responsibly” to address the controversy in the interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the preservation of the rule of law.
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