Dumebi Kachikwu, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the rollout of Nigeria’s new tax reforms, warning that pushing them through at the start of 2026 could worsen hardship and spark instability.
Kachikwu made the appeal in a New Year message issued in Abuja on Wednesday, December 31, titled “We Can’t Start The Year With More Taxes.”
He acknowledged that Tinubu met a weak economy on assumption of office but argued that the government’s policy choices have deepened the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“Any reasonable Nigerian understands that upon assumption of office, our President was confronted with a comatose economy that needed urgent surgery.
“But this surgery has now decapitated the legs and arms of Nigerians who are supposed to be the beneficiaries of the economic resuscitation,” he stated.
The ADC chieftain claimed that a small group benefits most from current policies while the wider public bears the cost.
“Our president must understand that the major beneficiaries of his policies are the legal robbers who instigate government policies that mostly benefit their companies to the detriment of most Nigerians,” he said.
While agreeing that reform is necessary, he said the timing of additional tax burdens is wrong for a population already stretched thin.
“We understand the need for tax reforms, but an already overburdened populace can’t afford any more taxation especially when they mostly believe the government does nothing meaningful with its current revenues,” he added.
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Kachikwu warned that the reforms could shrink the middle class further, forcing more families to pay privately for basic services due to failing public institutions.
“This tax reform will further erode the ranks of the Nigerian middle-class who have resorted to paying exorbitant fees for quality education, healthcare and other social services because of our failed public institutions.”
“My fear is that if implemented as promised by our president, the tax reforms will instigate a crisis of unprecedented proportions in our nation which no one can afford especially with our current security issues.”
He said his objection is not rooted in opposition politics, noting he has supported some of Tinubu’s initiatives in the past.
“I have applauded some of the president’s bold initiatives and if I choose not to run for office, I will support him any day above the failed politicians masquerading as the opposition.
“But I must tell him today that I am not in support of this tax reform or any other reform that further decimates the livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians.
“He can’t champion his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ whilst at the same time cutting short the hopes of Nigerians. We all need our hopes to be kept alive in the year 2026,” he added.
Tinubu, however, has insisted the tax laws will take effect as scheduled.
He described the reforms as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation,” saying implementation is “firmly in the delivery stage” and no major issue justifies halting the process.