By Desire Emmanuel
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Tuesday, December 23, demanded that a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the tax reform laws.
The NBA stated this in a statement signed by its president, Afam Osigwe, saying the controversies that have emerged in relation to the matter raise concerns about the integrity, transparency and credibility of country’s legislative process.
The statement reads: “The controversies that have emerged in relation to the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.
“These developments strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity that must attend lawmaking in a democratic society.
“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process.
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended.
“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude has far-reaching consequences. It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law.
“Such uncertainty is inimical to economic stability and should have no place in a system governed by the rule of law.
“Nigeria’s constitutional democracy demands that laws, especially those with profound economic and social implications, emerge from processes that are transparent, accountable and beyond reproach. Anything short of this undermines public trust and weakens the foundation upon which lawful governance rests.
“We therefore call on all relevant authorities to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this controversy, in the overriding interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the preservation of the rule of law.”
