TMSG: Atiku Has No Authority to Declare Tax Laws Invalid
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lacks the authority to declare the newly enacted tax laws a nullity or call for the suspension of their implementation.
The group was reacting to Atiku’s call for the January 1, 2026 commencement date of the tax reforms to be suspended over alleged alterations to some provisions of the Acts after their passage by the National Assembly.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the TMSG said only the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to review the allegations and determine the next line of action.
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According to the group, Atiku has consistently opposed the tax reforms since President Bola Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly in 2024, aimed at modernising what it described as Nigeria’s outdated tax laws.
“It is a fact that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has never hidden his opposition to the tax reforms since the Tinubu administration proposed the bills,” the statement said.
The group recalled that Atiku had previously aligned with groups that claimed some provisions of the bills were skewed against Northern Nigeria and had lobbied federal lawmakers to follow the recommendation of the National Economic Council, which at the time advised the withdrawal of the bills for broader consultations following disagreements over Value Added Tax sharing.
TMSG said the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate’s latest comments were an attempt to insert himself into the controversy surrounding the reforms and project himself as the face of the opposition.
“It is therefore not surprising that he has again thrown himself into another controversy on the tax reforms,” the group said.
The group argued that Atiku’s call for suspension of the reforms, even before the conclusion of investigations by the National Assembly, was aimed at undermining the Tinubu administration.
It added that the tax reforms are expected to boost the President’s profile, particularly as Nigerians are projected to benefit from over 50 tax reliefs from January 2026.
The TMSG also dismissed what it described as misinformation surrounding the reforms, including claims relating to tax identification, VAT and bank account monitoring, noting that such issues had been clarified by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The group expressed support for President Tinubu’s position that the implementation of the tax reforms would proceed as scheduled, describing the initiative as the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
It said the reforms are designed to simplify tax administration, reduce multiple taxation and improve revenue generation without placing additional burdens on Nigerians.
The group urged the National Assembly to complete its review by re-gazetting the tax Acts in their correct form and making clean copies available to Nigerians if the allegations of alterations are found to be true.
