The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for the immediate suspension of the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, citing controversies that, it says, undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
In a statement by the NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, on Tuesday, December 23, the association expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the passage of the laws, warning that the situation threatens the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the legislative process, core principles of constitutional governance in the country.
“The issues surrounding the Tax Reform Acts call into question whether due process and established legislative procedures were strictly followed in a democratic society,” the NBA said.
The association urged that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the events leading to the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the National Assembly.
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The statement reads: “The controversies that have emerged in relation to the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process. These developments strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity that must attend lawmaking in a democratic society.
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“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process. Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended.
“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude has far-reaching consequences. It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law. Such uncertainty is inimical to economic stability and should have no place in a system governed by the rule of law.
“Nigeria’s constitutional democracy demands that laws, especially those with profound economic and social implications, emerge from processes that are transparent, accountable, and beyond reproach. Anything short of this undermines public trust and weakens the foundation upon which lawful governance rests.
“We therefore call on all relevant authorities to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this controversy, in the overriding interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the preservation of the rule of law.”
