The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of putting money ahead of the welfare of Nigerians since it assumed office in 2023.
The PDP said this in reaction to the controversial tax laws.
The opposition party had asked the federal government to extend the enforcement of the tax laws by six months, citing alleged alterations in the gazetted copy.
On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu said the January 1 implementation date is sacrosanct, insisting that there is no sufficient reason to suspend the tax laws.
In a statement, Ini Ememobong, PDP spokesperson, said the president must listen to the demands of Nigerians who elected him and suspend the implementation of the laws pending the conclusion of the national assembly’s planned probe into the alleged discrepancies.
“Nigerians across all walks of life have loudly voiced their displeasure over the smuggling in of very dangerous provisions, which were expunged earlier by the parliament,” the statement reads.
“Nigerians have demanded a thorough investigation of this anomaly and sought to know who carried out the illegal insertion and how it was done.
“Rather than address these issues comprehensively, the presidency has consciously minimised them and instead vehemently insisted that the commencement date must stand, despite the discrepancies.
“This disposition clearly shows where the priority of the government lies – between Nigerians and money.
“This Tinubu Presidency has always prioritised finance over the welfare and well-being of Nigerians from its inception in 2023, as evidenced by the reckless way it announced and implemented the removal of the subsidy, which immediately impacted the country’s economy and caused ordinary Nigerians to suffer irreparable economic damage.
“In this instance, the president should remember that he is an employee of the people and, therefore, should listen to his employers.
“He should also remember that he won with less than 40% of the votes in the elections that gave him the job and should therefore recognise that listening to Nigerians must be a primary duty of his administration, rather than serving the narrow interests of people around him.”
Ememobong referenced the PDP’s handling of the 2012 fuel subsidy protests, saying that a government that listens to civil society and public opinion can avoid policies that negatively affect citizens.
He said Tinubu must act in the people’s favour and avoid putting money above Nigerians.
