By EgbemaVoice
A northern youth group, the Arewa Youth Assembly, has rejected the newly introduced tax laws signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging discrepancies between the version passed by the National Assembly and the one eventually gazetted.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the group claimed that key provisions of the tax legislation were altered after legislative approval, raising concerns about transparency, due process, and legislative integrity. According to the assembly, such alleged changes undermine public trust and could place an unfair burden on citizens, particularly small businesses and low-income earners in the North.
The group called on the Federal Government to immediately clarify the differences between the lawmakers’ approved version and the gazetted document. It also urged the National Assembly to investigate the matter and ensure that the law reflects what was duly debated and passed.
“The integrity of the legislative process must be protected. Any alteration of laws after passage is unacceptable and amounts to a betrayal of democratic principles,” the statement read.
The Arewa Youth Assembly warned that failure to address the concerns could lead to widespread resistance to the implementation of the tax reforms across northern states.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Finance had not issued an official response to the allegations.
The controversy adds to growing public debate over the administration’s tax reforms, which the government says are aimed at boosting revenue, stabilising the economy, and reducing dependence on borrowing.
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