The National Opposition Movement (NOM) has demanded the immediate suspension of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reforms, warning that implementing the laws on January 1, 2026 could deepen economic hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, NOM described the reforms as punitive and poorly timed, saying they target workers, traders, professionals, and small businesses already struggling with rising costs of living and insecurity.
The reforms, signed into law on June 26, 2025, include the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.
The government says the measures will simplify tax administration, broaden the revenue base, and protect low-income earners.
NOM called for nationwide consultations involving labour unions, civil society, SMEs, professional bodies, and state governments.
The group also demanded explicit social protection guarantees, a shift in focus to taxing luxury, excess profits, monopolies, corruption, not poverty, and strong legal safeguards to protect taxpayers’ rights.
“Nigeria does not suffer from low taxation. It suffers from waste, corruption, mismanagement, policy arrogance. Forcing this plan without consultation will make the government fully responsible for the social and economic fallout. This is not a threat. It is a warning grounded in reality,” NOM said.
READ ALSO: Reps Set Up Committee to Probe Alleged Alteration of Tax Laws
The Presidency rejected NOM’s demands on the same day, insisting the reforms will proceed as scheduled.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the laws had already been passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President, describing the implementation as “unstoppable” while stressing that low-income earners would not bear undue burden.
The debate over the tax reforms has intensified nationwide, with civil society and opposition lawmakers calling for a review, citing enforcement gaps, potential inequities, and the country’s limited capacity to implement the new system effectively.