By Kingston Magare 31.12.2025
As President Bola Tinubu presses ahead with his plans to implement his tax reform law January 1, 2026, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, said the Federal government will be foisting an illegal law on Nigerians, if allegations of tampering with the legislation are not addressed.
The House of Representatives during a plenary session in December observed that certain provisions have been smuggled into the law passed by the National Assembly in the gazetted version of the bill. The Tinubu administration did not respond to the allegations.
Falana said in Ilawe-Ekiti while speaking to news reporters that the Federal government needed to address the issues raised by the House of Reps.
“If that was not done, the government would put itself in trouble by deciding to implement the laws. There are interest groups ready to challenge the legitimacy of the laws,” he said.
President Tinubu said Tuesday that allegations will not be addressed, and the tax laws will come into effect as scheduled on January 1.
“The new tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and the remaining Acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will continue as planned. These reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for our country.
“The tax laws are not designed to raise taxes, but rather to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and protect dignity while strengthening the social contract. I urge all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which is now firmly in the delivery stage.
“Our administration is aware of the public discourse surrounding alleged changes to some provisions of the recently enacted tax laws. No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process. Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures.”