PDP asks FG to delay implementation of tax laws by six months

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the federal government to suspend the implementation of the newly enacted tax laws for at least six months, citing concerns over alleged discrepancies between the versions passed by the National Assembly and the copies officially gazetted.

The implementation of the tax laws is scheduled to commence in January.

The opposition party made the demand in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, arguing that the delay is necessary to allow for a thorough investigation into claims that the gazetted tax laws do not reflect what lawmakers approved.

The call follows an allegation by Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State, who claimed that the tax laws made available to the public contain insertions and substitutions not passed by the parliament.

Dasuki said he obtained copies of the gazetted laws from the Ministry of Information and discovered notable differences when compared with the harmonised versions adopted by the National Assembly.

“What was passed on the floor is not what is gazetted,” the lawmaker said, warning that such discrepancies amount to a constitutional breach and could undermine the credibility of the legislature.

In response, the House of Representatives, during Thursday’s plenary, constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the alleged inconsistencies. The committee is chaired by Muktar Betara and includes Idris Wase (Plateau), James Faleke (Lagos), Sada Soli (Katsina), Iduma Igariwey (Ebonyi), Fredrick Agbedi (Bayelsa) and Babajimi Benson (Lagos).

The panel is expected to compare the versions passed by the National Assembly with the officially gazetted copies to determine the nature and extent of the discrepancies.

Reacting to the development, the PDP said the investigation must be comprehensive and transparent.

“This disparity must be thoroughly investigated and not treated with the customary levity that this administration has shown toward very serious issues of governance,” the party said.

According to the PDP, Nigerians deserve clarity on how “unenacted sections” found their way into the gazetted laws, warning that such actions could erode public trust in the legislative process.

The party further demanded that the commencement date of the tax laws be shifted from January 1, 2026, to allow time for the investigation, proper publication of the authentic version of the law, and adequate public sensitisation.

Beyond the tax law controversy, the PDP also criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government over Nigeria’s declining international standing.

Ememobong cited the recent detention of Nigerian Air Force aircraft and personnel in Burkina Faso, as well as new visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians by the United States, which he attributed to worsening insecurity and governance challenges.

He argued that Nigeria’s global influence has diminished under the current administration, pointing to the country’s drop in the 2024 Global Firepower ranking from 36th to 39th.

The PDP spokesperson also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence at the 68th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, where key issues such as insecurity and political instability in the sub-region were discussed.

According to him, the President’s absence, followed by attendance at a political event the next day, sent the wrong signal about Nigeria’s commitment to regional leadership.

The party urged President Tinubu to prioritise governance over politics and intensify investment in critical sectors such as security, education, health care, roads and infrastructure, rather than focusing on political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.