By Atoyebi Nike
The Nigerian Bar Association has urged the immediate suspension of the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, citing alleged discrepancies between the versions passed by the National Assembly and the copies later gazetted into law.
In a statement on Tuesday, NBA President Afam Osigwe called for a pause in implementation until the issues are fully resolved, warning that any deviation from proper legislative processes undermines constitutional governance.
Osigwe said the uncertainty surrounding the reforms could unsettle the business climate, erode investor confidence, and create unpredictability for taxpayers. “It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law in June, including the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, with implementation scheduled for January 2026.
However, the reforms have faced growing opposition, with political figures such as Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and the African Democratic Party calling for a halt. Some lawmakers have raised concerns that the gazetted versions differ from the bills passed by the House and Senate, prompting calls for urgent legislative scrutiny to ensure the integrity of the process.
