Former Enugu State Governor and respected elder statesman, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order a thorough investigation into alleged discrepancies surrounding the recently enacted tax law. Nwodo described the differences between the version passed by the National Assembly and the one eventually gazetted as alarming and capable of eroding public confidence in governance.
Speaking on the matter, Nwodo—who also served as National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—warned that such inconsistencies pose a serious threat to democratic accountability. He stressed that the issue has become a major concern within the PDP, noting that Nigerians had actively engaged with the executive arm of government before the tax bill was passed into law.
According to him, taxation remains a vital pillar for national development and survival. He clarified that Nigerians are not opposed to reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the tax system. “Every eligible adult Nigerian has a responsibility to pay tax if the country is to function effectively. Updating tax laws to make them more efficient is not the problem,” he said. However, he expressed unease over what he described as a possible hidden agenda, which now appears to be playing out in the open.
Nwodo found it deeply embarrassing that lawmakers would admit that the law they approved was different from the one eventually gazetted. He questioned how such a situation could arise, asking pointedly who transmitted the document for official printing and the source of the version that was published.
He called for a transparent and credible investigation to reassure Nigerians that neither the president nor the presidency was complicit in the alleged alterations. He further insisted that those responsible must be identified and held accountable. In his view, the president should also formally apologise to the public and request the National Assembly to resubmit a clean and accurate version of the bill for proper assent and gazetting.
The elder statesman criticised suggestions that the discrepancies could simply be corrected quietly, describing such an approach as disrespectful to the intelligence of Nigerians. He argued that transparency is non-negotiable, especially when citizens are expected to comply with tax obligations.
Nwodo also questioned the rush to implement the law, particularly the insistence on a January 1 commencement date. He maintained that effective and credible implementation would achieve far better compliance than hurried enforcement shrouded in controversy.
In closing, he reminded the government that sovereignty ultimately lies with the people. Quoting the opening words of the Nigerian Constitution, he emphasised that leaders hold power in trust and for a limited time, while the people remain the true owners of the nation.
His remarks come amid rising public concern over trust, transparency, and accountability in the federal government’s tax reform efforts, reinforcing calls for integrity in Nigeria’s legislative and governance processes.
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