Opposition Slams Tax Reforms as ‘Assault on Poor Nigerians’; Reps Highlight Discrepancies with Gazetted Copy

By Emmanuel Kwada

A fresh wave of controversy has engulfed President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious tax reform agenda, with opposition groups labeling it an “assault on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians” amid escalating economic hardships.

The National Opposition Movement (NOM), a coalition of political figures and activists, has demanded the immediate suspension of the reforms’ implementation, set to begin in January 2026, while lawmakers in the House of Representatives have raised alarms over alleged discrepancies between the versions of the bills passed by the National Assembly and those officially gazetted.

The Presidency, however, has firmly rejected these calls, insisting the reforms are essential for boosting revenue and modernizing Nigeria’s fiscal system.

The tax reform package, comprising four key bills; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act was signed into law by President Tinubu earlier this month.

Proponents argue that the reforms will widen the tax base, exempt 95% of Nigerians from personal income tax by raising the threshold to N1.2 million annually, and shift focus toward taxing high-income earners, corporations, and digital assets.

Nigeria does not suffer from low taxation. Nigeria suffers from waste, corruption, mismanagement, policy arrogance.

Critics, however, contend that the timing is ill-suited given rampant inflation, unemployment, and poverty, which have worsened since the removal of fuel subsidies and Naira devaluation in 2023.

Opposition’s Fiery Demands: A Warning of Impending Crisis

In a strongly worded statement delivered during a press conference, the NOM outlined five key demands, framing the reforms as punitive toward the poor while excusing governmental failures. “Nigeria does not suffer from low taxation. Nigeria suffers from waste, corruption, mismanagement, policy arrogance,” the group’s spokesperson declared. They called for:

1. The immediate suspension of the tax plan’s takeoff date.
2. National consultations involving labor unions and stakeholders.
3. Social protection guarantees tied to any tax reform.
4. A focus on taxing luxury goods, excess profits, monopolies, and corruption rather than poverty.
5. Strong legal safeguards to protect taxpayers’ rights.

The NOM emphasized solidarity with Nigerian workers, traders, professionals, and small businesses, vowing to resist policies that “punish the poor to excuse leadership failures.”

They warned that forcing the plan through without consultations could lead to severe socio-economic consequences, stating, “This is not a threat. It’s a warning grounded in reality. Nigeria is hurting, and the suffering Nigerians have limits. Let us warn President Tinubu and his enforcers: This invites crisis.”

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