Tax reform bill controversy deepens as Adeyanju alleges post-assent alterations
The controversy surrounding Nigeria’s tax reform law has deepened following allegations by rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, that the bill assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu differs from the version passed by the National Assembly.
In a statement on Thursday, Adeyanju described reports of post-assent alterations as deeply disturbing, warning that if proven true, such action would amount to the most serious assault on Nigeria’s democratic process since the return to civil rule in 1999.
He argued that under a constitutional democracy, the president has no authority to assent to any bill other than the exact version approved by the legislature, stressing that any changes made after passage would constitute legislative fraud.
According to him, omissions, additions, or substitutions after parliamentary approval undermine the sovereignty of the Nigerian people and erode public trust in democratic institutions.
Adeyanju therefore demanded that the Tinubu administration immediately clarify the matter and publish the authenticated version of the bill passed by the National Assembly, insisting that failure to do so would raise grave questions about the integrity and legitimacy of the lawmaking process.
“There are disturbing reports that the tax reform bill assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is materially different from the version duly passed by the National Assembly. If this allegation is true, it represents the greatest mockery of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999.
“In a sane constitutional democracy, the President can only assent to the exact bill passed by the legislature. Any post-passage alteration, whether by omission, addition, or substitution, amounts to legislative fraud and an affront to the sovereignty of the Nigerian people!
“The Tinubu administration must immediately come clean with an explanation and publish the authenticated version of the bill passed by the National Assembly. Anything short of this shows that the Tinubu Administration is a criminal enterprise masquerading as a government.” He said.
