Alteration row: Tinubu holds firm on January 1 start for new tax regime

Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, described the President’s position as regrettable, stressing that the controversies surrounding the Tax Reform Bills remain unresolved.

He said the President should address the serious concerns raised by the bills, noting that the issues being highlighted are both valid and important. According to him, Nigerians are particularly troubled by the apparent differences between what was passed by the National Assembly and the version that was later gazetted.

Muhammad-Baba emphasized that citizens deserve clarity on what the National Assembly approved and why discrepancies exist, describing the matter as one that touches on credibility and integrity and must be properly resolved.

He noted that there were signs the National Assembly had begun examining the issue and insisted that due process should be allowed to take its full course in the national interest, given that the outcome affects all citizens as key stakeholders.

He also revealed that the ACF leadership was reviewing developments and would soon make its official position known. Reflecting on earlier deliberations on the tax laws, he said the ACF had put forward important recommendations that were incorporated into the versions passed by the National Assembly.

He expressed disappointment that these efforts now appeared to have been undermined, adding that such an approach falls short of democratic standards.