Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stark warning to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate suspension of the planned implementation of Nigeria’s new Tax Reform Law, which is due to take effect on January 1, 2026. The student body says the rollout, as currently scheduled, is fraught with constitutional concerns, lack of adequate public sensitisation and procedural irregularities that could deepen public distrust and exacerbate economic strain on individuals and businesses.
In a statement signed by NANS National President Comrade Olushola Oladoja, the organisation said it recognises the importance of tax reforms in strengthening national revenue and economic stability but emphasised that the implementation process has been fundamentally flawed and poorly communicated to Nigerians. The student body expressed alarm that most citizens — particularly students, young workers and small business operators — remain grossly uninformed about the content, scope, and long‑term impacts of the new tax legislation.
“Nigerians are grossly poorly informed and insufficiently enlightened about the content, scope, breadth, impacts, and long‑term implications of the new Tax Reform Law,” NANS stated, warning that the lack of clear public education and engagement could further burden citizens already struggling under severe economic hardship. The association described the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) sensitisation initiatives as ineffectual, including the heavy reliance on social media influencers rather than inclusive, community‑based outreach that reaches rural and less digitally connected populations.
Beyond concerns about public awareness, NANS raised serious constitutional and legislative integrity issues. The organisation cited claims that the version of the tax law published in the official government gazette differs from the one passed by the National Assembly, a discrepancy that has rapidly become a source of national controversy and prompted legislative scrutiny. NANS argues that such alleged post‑passage alterations undermine democratic processes and raise questions about the law’s legitimacy.
The association’s demand aligns with broader political and legal pushback. Members of the House of Representatives’ Minority Caucus have also called for a suspension of the tax law’s implementation until investigations into the alleged alterations are concluded and clarity is provided to the public. Some lawmakers have argued that the differences between what parliament approved and what was gazetted represent a constitutional breach that could invalidate the law if not addressed.
In issuing its ultimatum, NANS set a 14‑day timeframe for the government to announce a postponement and begin comprehensive nationwide public sensitisation campaigns. The student body cautioned that if its demands are not met by January 14, 2026, it will consider coordinating nationwide protests and other legitimate actions to defend the interests of Nigerian students and the broader citizenry.
NANS criticised the government’s approach to communication, arguing that it has failed to leverage grassroots organisations and community networks capable of engaging citizens outside major urban centres and online platforms. Instead, the association said, the strategy has largely centred on digital messaging that excludes significant segments of the population, particularly in rural areas where access to social media and internet services is limited.
The student body’s call has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters of the immediate rollout argue that delaying the reforms could create fiscal uncertainty and undermine efforts to modernise Nigeria’s tax system, which includes the introduction of a unified Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) portal linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and corporate registration numbers for businesses. Government officials — including members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms — have reiterated that the January 1 start date remains sacrosanct and that the reforms are intended to ease the tax burden and broaden the revenue base.
Critics of the reform’s current rollout strategy, including various civil society groups and legal experts, maintain that no law should be implemented amid unresolved constitutional concerns and public confusion. They argue that rushing into enforcement without transparency and broad citizen understanding risks further eroding trust in government institutions and could spark broader social resistance.
The controversy over the new tax regime reflects deep tensions in Nigeria’s fiscal policy debates, where efforts to modernise revenue collection intersect with persistent concerns about economic hardship, governance transparency and procedural legitimacy. As political actors and civil society converge on these issues, the nation faces a critical juncture in determining how best to implement broad tax reforms while maintaining public trust and upholding constitutional norms.
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