From Our Reporter
The Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria (MEN) has declared that there is no valid tax law in existence in Nigeria, warning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately halt any attempt to implement what it described as a fraudulently altered Tax Reforms Law.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Comrade General, Solomon Dalung, MEN alleged that the tax law passed by the National Assembly was mutilated,
substituted, and altered outside constitutional legislative procedures, rendering it null, void, and unenforceable.
The group accused the Federal Government of attempting to impose an illegitimate tax regime through executive coercion, describing such action as constitutional fraud, executive lawlessness, and a grave threat to democratic governance.
According to MEN, any law lawfully passed by the National Assembly cannot be secretly rewritten or gazetted in a distorted form without due legislative concurrence.
The organization warned that enforcing such a document amounts to what it termed a “civilian coup against the Nigerian people.”
MEN cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), stressing that where a president has reservations about a bill, such concerns must be formally communicated to the National Assembly for reconsideration. Any deviation from this process, the group insisted, invalidates the law.
“At a time when Nigerians are grappling with hunger, inflation, insecurity, unemployment, and deep economic hardship, the imposition of a fraudulent tax regime represents the height of insensitivity and tyranny,” the statement read.
The group further warned that taxation without lawful authority constitutes oppression, noting that history shows oppression often provokes resistance.
MEN called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, labour unions, professional bodies, traders, farmers, students, and the media to peacefully and lawfully resist any attempt to enforce what it described as an unconstitutional tax law.
It urged legal action, sustained civic engagement, and democratic pressure against the policy.
The organisation also cautioned that any tax collected under the disputed law would be illegal and recoverable, adding that officials involved in its enforcement could face future personal and institutional liability.
“Nigeria is not a conquered territory to be ruled by ambush. The Constitution must reign supreme, and the will of the people must prevail,” MEN declared.
