The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has warned against the planned implementation of the new tax law by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, stressing that it could spark resistance and serious political consequences.
AYA therefore announced its vehement opposition and total rejection of the newly introduced tax law which it described as “governance by ambush”.
The northern youth group particularly noted that the version gazetted and presented to the public is significantly different from what was debated and passed by the National Assembly.
AYA stated that the development was not a minor clerical error, but a constitutional crisis that suggests executive overreach, legislative fraud and a dangerous disregard for the rule of law.
These were contained in a statement by the Speaker of the Northern Youth Assembly, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, who emphasised that any discrepancy between the law approved by lawmakers and the one officially published, amounted to a grave violation of the provision of the constitution, democratic principles and due process.
Danlami said; “If the law presented to Nigerians is not the same law debated and passed by their elected representatives, then democracy itself is being subverted”.
AYA stressed that legislation represents the collective will of the people and must not be altered after parliamentary approval, insisting that any post-approval modification constituted deception, a breach of constitutional procedure and a betrayal of public trust.
It further said that while lawmakers approved a tax framework following extensive deliberations and amendments, the gazetted version reportedly contains provisions that were neither debated nor sanctioned by the legislature.
AYA also restated its opposition to the prevailing economic hardship in the country, particularly in Northern Nigeria, where poverty, unemployment, inflation and insecurity remain widespread.
It further said; “A government that cannot uphold legislative integrity has no moral authority to impose additional fiscal burdens on a suffering population. We reject this extortion disguised as a policy.”
AYA specifically warned that enforcing a tax law whose legality is in doubt could deepen public distrust and provoke widespread opposition.
