Group faults Atiku’s call for suspension of new tax reforms

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG), a political movement, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lacks the authority to declare the newly enacted tax laws a nullity or call for the suspension of their implementation.

The group made the assertion in response to Atiku’s call for the suspension of the January 1, 2026 commencement date of the tax laws over alleged alterations to some of their provisions.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG noted that only the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to scrutinise such claims and determine any further action.

TMSG noted that Atiku has consistently opposed the tax reforms since President Bola Tinubu’s administration forwarded four tax reform bills to the National Assembly in 2024 to modernise Nigeria’s tax system.

The group recalled that Atiku had aligned with critics who argued that some provisions of the bills were unfavourable to Northern Nigeria and had lobbied lawmakers to adopt the National Economic Council’s recommendation for the bills’ withdrawal over Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing concerns.

According to TMSG, Atiku’s latest intervention was an attempt to position himself as the face of the opposition by exploiting the current controversy, insisting he had no legal basis to declare the tax laws invalid while the matter was still before the National Assembly.

The group also dismissed what it described as false narratives surrounding the reforms, including claims on tax identification, VAT and bank account monitoring, noting that these had been clarified by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

TMSG reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s stance that the reforms would proceed as scheduled, urging the National Assembly to conclude its review and re-gazette the acts in their correct form if any alterations are confirmed.