Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has reacted to reports claiming that the version of the tax reform legislation signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not align with the bill approved by the National Assembly.
Speaking via a statement, Adeyanju warned that if the allegation is true, the development represents the greatest mockery of Nigeria’s democracy.
The activist warned that the Tinubu-led government’s failure to clarify the controversy would portray the administration as an illegitimate outfit operating under the guise of governance.
“There are disturbing reports that the tax reform bill assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is materially different from the version duly passed by the National Assembly.
“If this allegation is true, it represents the greatest mockery of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999,” he said.
He emphasised that in any functional constitutional system, a president is only empowered to give assent to legislation exactly as approved by the legislature.
He argued that any modification after parliamentary approval, whether through removal, insertion, or replacement of provisions, constitutes a gross abuse of the lawmaking process and a direct violation of the will of the Nigerian people.
The activist further demanded that the federal government provide an urgent explanation and make public the certified copy of the bill passed by the National Assembly.
He noted that anything less than full transparency would reinforce perceptions that the Tinubu administration is operating like a criminal syndicate rather than a legitimate government.