Peter Ameh, former national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has accused the Presidency of signing into law a version of the new tax reform legislation that differs significantly from the bill passed by the National Assembly. Ameh made the allegation during an appearance on Symfoni’s Naija Unfiltered podcast, warning that Nigeria risks operating under an “illegal and unconstitutional” law.
Speaking on the programme, Ameh described the development as a direct assault on legislative authority and due process. According to him, the divergence between the lawmakers’ version and the version signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents “a criminal alteration” that undermines democratic governance.
He argued that the controversial law must be suspended immediately, insisting that no government can compel citizens or businesses to comply with a statute that was not validly enacted. “What the National Assembly passed is not what the President signed. That is fraud. That is unconstitutional,” he declared.
Ameh criticised the National Assembly leadership for what he termed a “shameful abdication of responsibility,” alleging that lawmakers failed to defend their own work or safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process. He further stated that Nigerians are now exposed to arbitrary taxation because the law being enforced does not reflect the contents debated and approved in parliament.
He accused executive officials of manipulating the bill after its passage, a practice he said has become increasingly frequent. Ameh added that this breach of procedure threatens the foundation of the rule of law and erodes public confidence in governance.
Calling for transparency, Ameh demanded that the National Assembly publish the exact version sent to the President and that the Presidency release the final version signed into law. “Only then will Nigerians see the differences and know who is lying,” he said.
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The political analyst urged citizens, civil society organisations, and legal practitioners to challenge the law in court, stating that only judicial intervention can halt the implementation of what he described as an illegitimate instrument of taxation.
Ameh concluded that the credibility of the Tinubu administration and the National Assembly is now on trial, insisting that the issue goes beyond taxation and strikes at the heart of constitutional order in Nigeria.
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