The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has renewed its call for the suspension of the commencement date of the Tax Act, citing discrepancies between the harmonised and gazetted versions of the law.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesman, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party said Nigerians across social strata have expressed displeasure over what it described as the smuggling of “very dangerous provisions” that were earlier expunged by the National Assembly.
The PDP said Nigerians have demanded a thorough investigation to determine who carried out the alleged illegal insertions and how they were effected.
The party accused the presidency of minimising the concerns while insisting that the commencement date of the Tax Act must stand despite the discrepancies.
According to the PDP, the posture of the presidency shows where the government’s priority lies “between Nigerians and money”.
The party said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritised finance over the welfare of Nigerians since 2023, citing the removal of fuel subsidy and its economic consequences.
The PDP said the president should remember that he is “an employee of the people” and ought to listen to Nigerians.
It said Tinubu won the election with less than 40 percent of the votes and should therefore recognise listening to Nigerians as a primary duty of his administration.
The party recalled that a PDP-led federal government in 2012 listened to Nigerians and civil society organisations during protests against fuel subsidy removal, adding that Tinubu played a prominent role in those protests.
The PDP reiterated its call for the suspension of the Tax Act’s commencement date pending the conclusion of a thorough investigation into the alleged discrepancies.
The party said obedience to laws in a democracy is linked to public confidence that elected legislators deliberated upon and approved them.
“Consequently, we reiterate our earlier call for the suspension of the commencement date of the Tax Act, pending the conclusion of a thorough investigation.
“Obedience to laws in a democracy is directly linked to the belief that elected legislators have deliberated upon and approved them.
“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.
“The President must act in favour of the people of this country; to do otherwise is a clear confirmation that money, not the people, is the priority,” the party stated.
