‘It is a Forgery, Not a Clerical Error’ — Atiku Slams ‘Illegal’ Alterations of Tinubu’s Tax Act
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the discrepancies in the gazetted version of the President Tinubu-led administration’s Tax Act as a “nullity” and a “grave constitutional issue,” following Senate confirmation that the published document does not reflect the version passed by the National Assembly.
In a press statement released on Sunday, Atiku asserted that any modification to a bill after its passage by Parliament, without formal legislative approval, amounts to legal forgery rather than a simple administrative mistake.
A Breakdown of the Constitutional Process
Atiku reminded the federal government and the leadership of the National Assembly of the exclusive lawmaking process outlined in Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution.
He emphasized that gazetting is merely an administrative act of publication and cannot validate an illegal or misrepresented document:
* Illegal Shortcuts: He argued that administrative directives from Senate President Godswill Akpabio or Speaker Tajudeen Abbas cannot validate a defective law.
* Void Publication: Where a gazette misrepresents the version approved by the chambers, it carries no legal force.
Rejecting Procedural Shortcuts
The former Vice President expressed concern over attempts to “rush” a re-gazetting of the bill while legislative investigations into the initial alterations are still pending. He warned that such actions undermine parliamentary oversight and create a “dangerous precedent”.
“Illegality cannot be cured by speed. The only lawful path is fresh legislative consideration, re-passage in identical form by both chambers, fresh assent, and proper gazetting,” Atiku insisted.
Clarifying his position on the broader economic policy, Atiku noted that his critique is not an opposition to tax reform itself, but a defense of the rule of law. He rejected any attempt to normalize constitutional breaches through “procedural shortcuts”.
The statement marks a significant escalation in the public debate surrounding the Tax Act, as stakeholders wait to see how the National Assembly and the Presidency will respond to the confirmed alterations.
By PRNigeria
