The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of prioritising revenue generation over the welfare and well-being of Nigerians, following the Federal Government’s decision to proceed with the commencement of the new Tax Act on January 1, 2026, despite controversies surrounding its gazetted provisions.
The opposition party renewed its call for the suspension of the Act’s implementation, citing widespread public anger over what it described as the “illegal insertion” of provisions that were earlier removed by the National Assembly during the legislative process.
This position was contained in a statement issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, who said Nigerians across various sectors have expressed strong displeasure over discrepancies between the harmonised version of the Tax Act passed by lawmakers and the version later gazetted.
“Nigerians across all walks of life have loudly voiced their displeasure over the smuggling of very dangerous provisions which were expunged earlier by the Parliament,” the party said.
According to the PDP, citizens are demanding a comprehensive investigation to establish who carried out the alleged insertions and how they found their way into the final document.
“Nigerians have demanded a thorough investigation of this anomaly and sought to know who carried out the illegal insertion and how it was done,” the statement added.
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The party argued that the controversy surrounding the Tax Act is in line with what it described as a consistent pattern of governance since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
“This Tinubu Presidency has always prioritised finance over the welfare and well-being of Nigerians from its inception in 2023,” the PDP alleged.
As an example, the opposition party cited the removal of fuel subsidy, describing both its announcement and implementation as reckless and economically damaging.
“The reckless way it announced and implemented the removal of subsidy immediately impacted the economy of the country and caused ordinary Nigerians to suffer irreparable economic damage,” the party stated.
The PDP also urged President Tinubu to remember his responsibility to the Nigerian people, calling on him to listen to public concerns rather than, in its words, the narrow interests of those around him.
“In this instance, the President should remember that he is an employee of the people and, therefore, should listen to his employers,” the statement said.
Referencing the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, the PDP noted that President Tinubu won with less than 40 per cent of the total votes cast, arguing that this places a greater obligation on him to govern inclusively and respond to public sentiment.
The party concluded by reiterating its demand for the suspension of the Tax Act’s commencement date until a full and transparent investigation into the alleged discrepancies is concluded.
“Consequently, we reiterate our earlier call for the suspension of the commencement date of the Tax Act, pending the conclusion of a thorough investigation,” the PDP said.
It warned that public confidence in the law-making process would be undermined if doubts over the legitimacy of the Act persist.
“Obedience to laws in a democracy is directly linked to the belief that elected legislators have deliberated upon and approved them,” the statement noted.
“A mere suspicion, let alone a confirmed fact, that unapproved sections have been smuggled into a law with the capacity to affect all Nigerians is sufficient reason to suspend its commencement.”