Tax Reform Turmoil: NASS Faces Lawsuit, Political Deadlock
By TOSAN OYAKHILOME-AKAHOMEN
Court Fight, Political Clash: Tax Law Implementation in Limbo
Legal Challenge Begins in Abuja High Court
A vacation session of the Abuja High Court on Monday began hearing a suit aimed at halting the planned implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws ahead of their scheduled commencement on 1 January 2026.
The Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative for Abuse Public Trustees is seeking an interim injunction to restrain the Federal Government, the National Assembly, the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and related agencies from enforcing the gazetted Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025.
Counsel for the plaintiff also asked the court to accelerate the substantive hearing timeline, restrict defendants’ response time, and allow substituted service on officials through their offices in Abuja.
The court has scheduled a ruling on the injunction motion for Monday, leaving federal authorities and citizens awaiting a decision that may determine whether implementation proceeds as planned.
Minority Caucus Demands Suspension Amid Controversy
In parallel, the House of Representatives Minority Caucus has called for an immediate suspension of the tax reform laws, urging Nigerians to disregard any unauthorised versions circulating in public discourse.
The group led by Rep. O.K. Chinda, Minority Leader, insisted the laws may have been illegally altered between passage and gazettement. These allegations, first raised by a member during plenary, have prompted the formation of a high-powered investigative committee in the House.
The caucus warned that improperly modified legislative texts threaten constitutional order and legislative integrity. It demanded clarity on the authentic versions and called on the federal government to halt implementation pending verification.
Civil Society Backs NASS Leadership
Contrasting with the legal and political challenges, at least 100 civil society organisations (CSOs), led by the Parliamentary Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN) and the Civil Rights Situation Room on Economic Reforms, rallied behind the National Assembly leadership.
The coalition commended Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for their handling of the tax reform crisis, describing their responses as constitutionally sound and procedurally exemplary.
At a press briefing in Abuja, CSO leader Comrade Ogiri John said the move to re-gazette the Acts and issue certified copies demonstrates a commitment to transparency and legal certainty. He urged stakeholders to allow constitutional processes to play out without undue pressure.
