The Nigerian Bar Association has raised concerns over controversies surrounding the recently enacted Tax Reform laws, warning that the issues cast doubt on the integrity, transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
The controversy began last week when a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, alleged discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted.
He claimed that the gazetted laws did not reflect what was debated and approved on the floor of the House.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, the NBA said the developments strike at the core of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity required in a democratic legislative process.
Calling for clarity, the association said, “The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted 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 for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts be suspended pending the outcome of such an investigation.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the statement said.
