PDP urges suspension of Jan 1 tax laws over alleged discrepancies
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reiterated its call for the suspension of the newly introduced tax laws, urging President Bola Tinubu to halt their enforcement pending a full investigation into alleged discrepancies in the gazetted version of the legislation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, spokesperson Ini Ememobong said the president’s insistence on proceeding with the laws disregards widespread public concerns and undermines democratic accountability. He called on Tinubu to suspend the laws until the National Assembly completes its planned probe into the alleged alterations.
The opposition party had previously requested that the federal government extend the implementation timeline by six months, citing claims that controversial provisions removed by the National Assembly were later reinserted into the final gazetted copy.
President Tinubu, however, on Tuesday maintained that the January 1 commencement date for the tax laws would remain unchanged, stating there was no compelling reason to delay their implementation.
The PDP explained that Nigerians from various sectors have expressed strong opposition to what it described as the “illegal insertion” of provisions previously removed by parliament, calling for full transparency on how the changes occurred and who was responsible.
It accused the presidency of downplaying the controversy while prioritising revenue generation over citizens’ welfare.
“The insistence on maintaining the commencement date, despite unresolved discrepancies, clearly demonstrates the government’s priorities—between Nigerians and money,” the statement read.
The party also criticised the Tinubu administration’s broader economic policies, arguing that fiscal considerations have consistently been placed above public well-being since the government assumed office in 2023. It cited the removal of the fuel subsidy, which it said had an immediate and severe impact on the economy and the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
