|By Babatunji Wusu
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has raised alarm over allegations that Nigeria’s tax reform laws were secretly altered after receiving approval from the National Assembly, describing the development as a direct attack on constitutional democracy.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, the organisation said the alleged changes were not accidental but a calculated effort to subvert the will of lawmakers and Nigerians.
CHRICED hinged its concerns on claims by Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who alleged that the final versions of the tax laws contained provisions that were neither debated nor approved by the National Assembly.
According to the rights group, the reportedly inserted provisions empower tax authorities to seize funds without a court order, compel taxpayers to pay 20 per cent of disputed assessments before filing appeals, and mandate tax calculations exclusively in U.S. dollars. It also alleged unauthorised alterations to sections dealing with petroleum income tax and value added tax (VAT).
“These are not clerical errors; they are acts of impunity,” CHRICED said, warning that if proven, the development would amount to legislative forgery and a criminal hijacking of the lawmaking process.
The organisation stressed that Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution prohibits any alteration of a bill after passage, except by the National Assembly, noting that any post-passage amendment constitutes a breach of the Constitution and public trust.
While acknowledging the Speaker of the House of Representatives’ decision to set up a seven-member ad hoc committee, CHRICED cautioned against what it described as a potential cover-up. It criticised the Presidency and the Senate for remaining silent more than 48 hours after the allegations surfaced, calling their inaction “dangerous and unacceptable.”
CHRICED demanded a full, independent, and time-bound investigation free from the control of any potentially implicated officials, alongside the immediate suspension of the implementation of the affected tax laws pending the outcome of the probe.
The group also called for the suspension, removal, arrest, and prosecution of all officials found culpable, regardless of status or influence, insisting that the findings of any investigation must be made public to ensure transparency and accountability.
It further urged civil society organisations, labour unions, professional bodies, the media, students, and concerned Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand accountability, warning that the handling of the matter would define the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
