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You Cannot Tax Nigerians Into Prosperity: A Scathing Call for Suspension of Tinubu’s Tax Law
You Cannot Tax Nigerians Into Prosperity: A Scathing Call for Suspension of Tinubu’s Tax Law.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“How the National Opposition Movement Frames President Tinubu’s Tax Reform as an Economic Assault on the People of Nigeria.”
On 17 December 2025, the political and economic fault lines in Nigeria widened sharply when the National Opposition Movement (NOM) issued an unequivocal demand for the immediate suspension of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new tax law, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. At a press conference held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, NOM described the tax overhaul as punitive, exploitative and harmful to the everyday lives of ordinary Nigerians, warning that its implementation would exacerbate hardship, deepen inequality, heighten social tensions and erode national cohesion amid an already severe economic crisis.
This resounding opposition is not merely rhetorical dissent though it echoes grounded economic anxieties and taps into the lived realities of a populace grappling with rising food prices, escalating electricity tariffs, unemployment and a collapse of public services. To fully grasp the gravity of NOM’s demands, it is essential to contextualise the new tax law, examine the socioeconomic dynamics underpinning the backlash and assess its implications for Nigeria’s fraught political economy.
What Does the New Tax Law Entail? The tax reforms in question consist of a series of four legislative acts signed into law on 26 June 2025, namely:
Nigeria Tax Act
Nigeria Tax Administration Act
Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act
Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act
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Collectively, these laws envision a broadened tax base that mandates all Nigerian adults of taxable age (regardless of employment status) to file tax returns between January 1 and March 31, 2026, with penalties for non-compliance. Moreover, business owners are required to file tax returns for all employees, including those earning below the taxable threshold, a departure from previous practices.
Proponents including the Presidency and the Federal Government assert that the reforms will streamline tax administration, improve efficiency, broaden the revenue base, exempt genuine low-income earners and ultimately strengthen public finances. However, these stated benefits are deeply contested by critics who argue that the reforms fall far short of equitable and effective tax policy.
NOM’s Core Criticisms: An “Assault on the Poor”. At the heart of NOM’s criticism is the belief that the tax laws are not genuine reforms but an assault on the economic wellbeing and social security of Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable:
1. A Tax at the Worst Possible Time
NOM emphasises that Nigeria is in the throes of a multidimensional crisis, characterized by:
Rising poverty and homelessness
Food scarcity and high cost of living
Worsening insecurity
Declining purchasing power
In such conditions, adding fresh tax obligations (especially unaccompanied by improved services or social protections) is perceived as deeply insensitive and economically reckless.
As Dr. Amina Bello, Senior Fellow in Public Policy at the Centre for Economic Governance, recently observed, “Reforming taxation must start with equity, transparency, and capacity and not coercion. Taxing people into poverty only accelerates economic decay.”
2. Disproportionate Impact on the Poor and Vulnerable
Critics argue that the new regime will disproportionately harm low-income Nigerians. Despite government claims of exemptions for the poor, mandatory filings for unemployed adults and penalties for non-compliance are widely viewed as an undue burden on those already struggling to survive. Small and medium-sized businesses, already squeezed by inflation and weak demand, fear added bureaucratic costs and compliance liabilities.
Economist Professor Chukwuemeka Nnaji of the University of Lagos warned, “A tax system that compels returns from the unemployed, the underemployed, and those in the informal sector (without addressing their constraints) is not reform; it is a regressive extraction of what little remains.”
3. Weak Institutional Capacity
NOM highlighted Nigeria’s chronic institutional weaknesses; limited internet access, inefficient service delivery and widespread corruption within revenue agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The group criticised an undisclosed Memorandum of Understanding between FIRS and a French tax agency as lacking transparency and accountability.
This distrust is not unfounded. Transparency International’s latest assessments underscore longstanding concerns about governance failures and revenue mismanagement in Nigeria. Economist and governance expert Dr. Khadijah Ibrahim argues that “tax compliance must be built on trust; where institutions are opaque, taxation becomes synonymous with exploitation.”
4. Failure to Tie Taxation to Public Services
Another central criticism concerns the lack of direct, credible commitments that increased tax revenues will translate into improved public services. Nigerians continue to endure chronic electricity outages, deteriorating healthcare systems, poorly performing schools, and inadequate security. NOM contends that citizens are being asked to pay more without a guarantee of tangible returns in public welfare.
Public finance scholar Professor Olufemi Adesina summed it up:
“A tax system divorced from visible public benefit is a moral failing. Citizens pay taxes to see better roads, functional health systems, safety and opportunity, not to subsidise inefficiency.”
NOM’s Demands: Beyond Suspension. NOM’s call for suspension is accompanied by detailed policy prescriptions:
Immediate halt to the tax plan’s implementation
Nationwide consultations with labour unions, civil society, SMEs, professionals and state governments
Explicit social protection guarantees tied to any future tax reforms
A shift in tax focus toward luxury consumption, excess profits, monopolies and corrupt gains
Stronger legal safeguards to protect taxpayer rights
This reflects a desire for a more inclusive and equitable policy process, one that acknowledges economic realities and empowers citizens rather than penalizes them.
Political and Social Implications. NOM’s stance aligns with ongoing resistance from organised labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), both of which have raised alarm over governance and economic policies under the Tinubu administration.
The opposition’s framing of the tax law as an “assault” signals deepening trust deficits between the government and significant segments of the public. Without dialogue and compromise, there is a tangible risk of escalating social unrest, strikes, and further fragmentation of national unity.
Defending Tax Reform and Or Misdiagnosing the Problem? Supporters of the tax reforms argue that Nigeria’s historical reliance on oil revenues has starved government coffers and that broadening the tax net is essential for sustainable fiscal policy. International financial institutions have long urged Nigerian administrations to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation to reduce dependence on volatile oil earnings.
However, this perspective faces critical pushback: What use is a broader tax base if millions cannot afford basic necessities? If institutional corruption persists unchecked? If tax revenues do not translate into visible public goods?
This fundamental tension lies at the heart of the current crisis of confidence.
A Moment of National Choice: A Nation at a Crossroads. The demand to suspend Tinubu’s tax law is more than a political slogan—it is a clarion call for governance rooted in equity, accountability and public trust. As Nigeria approaches the implementation deadline, the administration faces a pivotal choice: engage in genuine dialogue and recalibrate policy, or risk deepening an already perilous socio-economic divide.
As Dr. Aisha Mohammed, an expert in fiscal policy, warned, “Tax reform cannot be a dagger aimed at the poor. It must be a bridge to shared prosperity.”
In the final analysis, Nigerians should not be taxed into poverty; they must be taxed toward prosperity; where taxation and service delivery form a pact of mutual accountability and where no citizen is left to shoulder the weight of systemic failures alone.
Ramadan 2026: Let’s Be United, Shina Akanni Urges Muslims.
As Muslims all over the world begins the 30 days compulsory fasting and prayer today,top Fuji Musician Aare Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Scorpido has congratulates them for witnessing another month of Ramadan.
Akanni advised them to follow the teachings of the the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which is peaceful co existence among themselves and their neighbor ‘because Islam is Religion of peace”.
He said the month of Ramadan is an holy month therefore Muslims should try as much as they can to maintain peaceful coexistence among themselves and others and that they should see themselves as ambassador of peace.
While praying for Nigeria,Aare Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Scorpido said he believes that there will be an economic turnaround soon because what’s is happening now are signs of thought times that never last “if we can pecevere things will get better”.
The Scorpido crooner who recently released a hip hop single titled “Magbelo” said he is currently working on a complete album which will be released before the end of the year.
Aare Sir Shina Akanni Aroworeyin Scorpido whose last album ‘ABCD” is still in hot demand said that his next album will be a pot pouri of all kinds of music because his brand of Fuji music is a blend Fuji , Hip-hop,Apala ,Highlife and others.
The Enemies Within:
Jonahs Are Not Manageable — Dr. Chris Okafor
…….“To remove Jonah, you must bring Jesus into the matter.”
When a “Jonah” enters a person’s life, confusion, gossip, blackmail, betrayal, and the pull-him-down syndrome often follow. But the moment Jesus Christ is invited into the situation, the storm subsides and stability is restored.
This was the central message delivered by the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr. Chris Okafor, during the midweek non-denominational Prophetic Healing, Deliverance and Solutions Service (PHDS) held at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.
The Clergyman also declared that Nothing Happens Without Spiritual Influence
In his sermon titled “The Enemies Within,” Dr. Okafor declared that nothing happens without spiritual involvement. According to him, every visible battle has an invisible root.
Referencing the biblical story of Jonah, the Man of God explained that Jonah’s presence on the ship gave access to a contrary spirit that tormented everyone onboard.
Despite the losses suffered by innocent traders and sailors, the storm persisted because of one man’s disobedience.
However, he noted that when Jesus speaks into a situation, every storm must obey. Just as Christ rebuked the storm and it ceased, so too will the storms in believers’ lives subside when He is invited into their “boat.”
*The Impact of a Jonah*
Dr. Okafor further emphasized that “Jonahs” are difficult to manage. When such individuals are present in one’s circle, progress becomes delayed.
What should ordinarily manifest quickly may be prolonged or frustrated because someone close—someone who understands you deeply—may be operating as a spiritual adversary.
He explained that negative narratives, unnecessary battles, and unexplained setbacks often begin when a “Jonah” gains access to a person’s inner circle.
*The Solution*
“To remove Jonah from the boat of your life,” the Generational Prophet declared, “you must invite Jesus Christ into the matter.”
According to him, when Jesus takes control of the boat, the plans of the enemy are overturned.
What was designed for downfall becomes a testimony. No storm or battle can succeed where Christ reigns, and the enemy is ultimately put to shame.
The midweek service witnessed a strong prophetic atmosphere, with the power of God evident through deliverance, restoration, and divine revelations.
The Generational Prophet ministered deeply in the prophetic, calling out names, villages, and addressing alleged spiritual strongholds, as many lives were reportedly restored—all to the glory of God.
By Sunday Adeyemi
Uncategorized
FROM BORDER TO MARKETS: HOW NIGERIA’S REFORMS ARE REWRITING AND MODERNISING TRADE FACILITATION By O’tega Ogra
FROM BORDER TO MARKETS: HOW NIGERIA’S REFORMS ARE REWRITING AND MODERNISING TRADE FACILITATION
By O’tega Ogra
On the surface, the 2026 World Customs Organization (WCO) Technology Conference in Abu Dhabi, held in the last week of January, followed a familiar script: flags, formal sessions, carefully worded speeches. But beneath the choreography, something more consequential was unfolding. As customs chiefs and trade officials compared notes on the future of borders, Nigeria arrived not with theory, but with a working proposition.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Modernisation Project, being implemented through Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited, unveiled to a global audience of customs administrators and policy leaders a window into how Africa’s largest economy is confronting one of the most complex challenges in public administration: reforming the machinery of trade while it is still running.
For decades, customs reform was treated largely as a technical exercise—frequent patches here, shoddy fixes there; new software in one corner, revised procedures in another. Nigeria’s presence in Abu Dhabi signalled something different. TMP Limited, working in partnership with the NCS, advanced the argument that trade is a cornerstone of economic development and must be supported by organic, sustainable partner ecosystems. Such ecosystems deliver speed and trust, revenue and credibility, and secure borders without stifling commerce.
That argument resonated in a room increasingly aware that global trade is no longer defined solely by tariffs and treaties, but by data, interoperability, and the quiet efficiency of systems that simply work.
The annual WCO Technology Conference has, in recent years, become a barometer for the direction of global trade governance. This year’s discussions reflected a shared anxiety: supply chains are more fragile, compliance risks are rising, and governments face mounting pressure to collect revenue without discouraging investment. Customs administrations now sit at the intersection of all three.
Nigeria’s response has been to attempt a full reset.
At the heart of this effort is the NCS Modernisation Project, implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with TMP Limited as the concessionaire. The project seeks to replace fragmented technology deployments and manual processes within the Nigeria Customs Service with a single, integrated framework. This is anchored on B’Odogwu, a Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) that brings together cargo clearance, risk management, payments, and inter-agency collaboration. The ambition is sweeping—and so are the stakes.
Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, OON, Chairman of TMP, framed the initiative as nothing less than an institutional reconstruction, designed to position the NCS at the forefront of global customs administration technology, aligned with international standards and assurance frameworks.
“Digital trade modernisation is not just about upgrading systems,” he told participants in Abu Dhabi. “It is about upgrading trust, predictability, and confidence in how trade flows through our borders.”
That choice of words matters. Nigeria’s economy has long struggled with the perception gap between its size and the ease of doing business. Investors cite delays. Traders complain of opacity. Government points to revenue leakages. In this context, customs reform becomes as much a credibility project as a technical one.
Saleh’s message was timely and direct: modern trade demands modern customs. Data-driven processes, automation, and risk-based controls are no longer luxuries; they are prerequisites for competitiveness in a world where capital moves faster than policy.
The institutional face of this digital transformation is the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who led Nigeria’s delegation to Abu Dhabi. His message reflected a subtle but important shift in how customs leadership now understands its role.
“Customs administrations today must evolve from gatekeepers to facilitators of legitimate trade,” Adeniyi said. “Nigeria’s customs modernisation project reflects our determination to place the Nigeria Customs Service at the centre of national economic transformation.”
It is a familiar refrain globally, but one that carries particular weight in Nigeria, where customs revenue remains a critical pillar of public finance. Automation, Adeniyi argued, is not about weakening control; it is about strengthening it through intelligence rather than discretion.
Risk management systems reduce unnecessary physical inspections. Integrated platforms limit human contact. Data analytics improve compliance targeting. When executed well, the result is faster clearance for compliant traders and tighter scrutiny for high-risk consignments.
In Abu Dhabi, peers from Asia, Europe, and Latin America listened closely to Nigeria’s presentation. Reforming customs in a small, open economy is one thing. Doing so in a market of over 200 million people, home to some of Africa’s busiest ports and its largest economy, is quite another.
Nigeria’s engagement emphasised that customs modernisation is embedded within a broader economic reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Simplifying trade procedures, strengthening revenue assurance, and aligning with international standards form part of a wider effort to reposition the economy for investment-led growth.
What makes the project particularly noteworthy is its insistence on end-to-end coherence. Rather than digitising isolated functions, the reform aims to connect agencies, harmonise data, and reduce duplication across government—an all-of-government approach that acknowledges an uncomfortable truth: trade friction is often created not at the border, but between institutions.
The WCO 2026 Technology Conference offered Nigeria more than a platform; it provided a stress test. Questions from peers were pointed. How will change be sustained across political cycles? How will capacity be built? How will entrenched institutional behaviours be unlearned?
The responses were pragmatic. Reform is being phased. Training programmes are ongoing. International benchmarks are being adopted not as slogans, but as operating standards. There were no claims of perfection—only a clear statement of intent.
“Our engagement here underscores Nigeria’s commitment to international cooperation,” Adeniyi noted. “We are learning, sharing, and contributing to global conversations on the future of customs administration.”
That contribution matters. As Africa moves to deepen regional trade under continental frameworks, customs efficiency will determine whether integration succeeds in practice or remains aspirational on paper. Nigeria’s experience, if successful, could offer a valuable template for other developing economies navigating similar constraints.
In Abu Dhabi, the mood was cautious but curious. Reform fatigue is real in many countries. Yet there was a growing sense that Nigeria’s effort—precisely because of its scale and difficulty—deserves attention.
Borders are rarely glamorous. But they are decisive. In choosing to modernise its borders in public, under global scrutiny, Nigeria is signalling something beyond technical competence. It is signalling seriousness.
And in global trade, seriousness still counts.
O’tega Ogra is Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, responsible for the Office of Digital Engagement, Communications and Strategy in the Presidency.
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