Democracy threatened as CHRICED raises alarm over tax laws

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education has accused unnamed officials of tampering with Nigeria’s tax reform laws after their passage by the National Assembly, describing the alleged act as a grave assault on democracy.

The group said the gazetted versions of the tax laws contained provisions that were never debated or approved by lawmakers, raising concerns of what it termed legislative forgery.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Executive Director of CHRICED, Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said the allegations, raised by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsammad Dasuki, pointed to a coordinated attempt to rewrite the will of the legislature in secrecy.

Zikirullahi said the insertions were not clerical errors but deliberate acts of impunity that undermined the Constitution and the rule of law.

According to him, some of the alleged alterations include provisions empowering tax authorities to seize funds without court orders, compelling taxpayers to pay 20 per cent of disputed assessments before filing appeals, and mandating the use of the United States dollar for tax computation.

He added that changes were also allegedly made to provisions on petroleum income tax and value added tax without legislative approval.

CHRICED warned that any post-passage alteration of bills violated Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that only the National Assembly had the authority to amend laws.

The organisation said the scandal threatened public trust, investor confidence and democratic governance, warning that secrecy in law-making could erode the foundations of the state.

While acknowledging the Speaker’s decision to set up a seven-man ad hoc committee, CHRICED said Nigerians would not accept what it described as a whitewash.

The group criticised the Presidency and the Senate for what it called “dangerous silence” more than 48 hours after the allegations became public.

CHRICED demanded an independent and time-bound investigation, immediate suspension of the affected tax laws, and the prosecution of all officials involved, regardless of status.

It also called for full public disclosure of findings and stronger safeguards to prevent future manipulation of laws.

The organisation urged civil society groups, labour unions, the media and citizens to remain vigilant, warning that the controversy was a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.