Tinubu’s Tax Law An Assault On The Livelihood Of Ordinary Nigerians – National Opposition Movement
A group of opposition politicians under the banner of the National Opposition Movement (NOM) condemned the tax law reformation of the President Bola Tinubu administration as not a reformation but an assault on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians.
The movement described the reformation as ill- conceived and ill- timed at a period when Nigeria is at a threshold of multidimensional failure.
The opposition movement said it is a tragedy that the Federal Government is compounding this multidimensional failure by focusing on its political interests and not the security and welfare of the Nigerian people.
The Nigeria Opposition Movement berated what it called the massive impoverishment of Nigerians through Tinubu’s self-serving economic policies, such as the new tax regime.
Addressing a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on behalf of the movement, Hon Chile Igbawua said
“It is sad that at a time like this that the Tinubu administration is preparing to roll out the most punitive and exploitative tax regime in the history of Nigeria.
“Even the colonial authority in its viciousness did not contemplate taxing poor Nigerians the way Tinubu plans at the beginning of the years. The viciousness of this administration shows that Nigeria would be hit with these exploitative and inhuman tax regimes in January when they do not have the fiscal space for such sacrifices.
“This exploitative tax regime points to the thoughtlessness of the Tinubu administration and its unyielding commitment to cater to the financial interests of the oligarchs to the detriment of the ordinary Nigerians who he continues to punish with all manners of taxes and raising prices.
“Let us be clear, what President Tinubu is rolling out in January is not a tax reform; it is an assault on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians who he has not hidden his contempt for and whose prosperity is not part of the agenda of his government.
“According to the new tax law, all adults of taxable age, whether employed or not, must file a tax return between January 1 and 31st March 2026 after which sanction for non-filing will begin to apply. For owners of companies, you must file for all your employees even if they are paid below the taxable bracket.
” Remember, you cannot make the filling if you do not have a Tax Identification Number. This is so mindless. In a country where over 70 million are unemployed, where people do not have good access to internet services and where the level of service delivery from state institutions are poor or almost non-existent, President Tinubu has set up an exploitative racket against innocent Nigerians.
“This reads like a strategy from the infamous Lagos governance. Small and medium businesses are struggling to survive under a bad policy environment. Yet, Tinubu continues to pile pressure on them and does not provide any serious business support
“By the new tax plan, Nigerians earning less than minimum wage will be heavily taxed. The government has removed all subsidies and exposed low wage earners and the unemployed to high tariffs. Still, the government intends to overtax them, creating damaging human development and truncating any prospect of serious and sustained economic growth.
“This government continues to ask Nigerians to give more and more while it allows those in public office to take more and more. Tinubu has brought Nigerians to their knees. But Tinubu will not relent till he brings Nigerians to the grave.
“We will not allow suffering Nigerians to be brought to the grave. We, as the Nigerian Opposition Movement have decided to stand up in support of those opposition politicians who issued the letter a few days ago and the NLC and TUC to say enough is enough.
“This tax plan must not take off now. Its implementation must be suspended immediately. This is not tax reform. This tax is a weapon fashioned against the economic wellbeing and social security of suffering and poor Nigerian citizens.”
The National Opposition Movement, therefore, demanded an “Immediate suspension of the tax plan’s take-off date, Nationwide consultation involving labour, civil society, SMEs, professionals, and states and Explicit social protection guarantees tied to any tax reform”.
The movement also demanded that the government “focus on taxing luxury, excess profits, monopolies, and corruption , not poverty, Strong legal safeguards to protect taxpayer rights”
The movement said if this tax plan is forced through without suspension and consultation, the government will be fully responsible for the social and economic consequences.
Leaders at the press conference include, Comrade Dalihu Lukman, former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, former Sports minister, Solomon Dalung, CID Maduabum, Aisha Yesufu, Zakari Mohammed.
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