Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has warned that Nigeria’s newly introduced tax reforms could provoke public resistance if they end up placing heavier burdens on poor citizens already struggling with economic hardship.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the activist argued that many Nigerians are financially overstretched and should not be subjected to additional taxation pressures at a time of rising living costs and weak incomes.
Okay News reports that Sowore said sustainable reform should prioritise widening the tax base rather than increasing taxes on individuals who are already overburdened, warning that policies perceived as taxing poverty would inevitably face resistance.
He noted that Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains relatively low compared with several African peers, arguing that the challenge lies in improving tax collection coverage rather than raising rates on existing taxpayers.
Sowore also questioned the credibility of official statistics used to justify the reforms, accusing authorities of presenting inconsistent data and warning that a lack of transparency could further erode public trust in the tax system.
According to him, controversies surrounding the laws were worsened by claims that the tax regime which took effect differed from what was passed by the National Assembly, describing any reform process that begins with disputed documentation as problematic.
The Federal Government recently rolled out four tax reform laws, including the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, with implementation commencing on January 1, 2026.
In response to public concerns, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, dismissed versions of the laws circulating online as unauthorised, explaining that an incorrect draft gazette had caused confusion before being corrected.
To reinforce transparency, the House of Representatives released the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the four Acts, following directives from Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, in consultation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Federal Government has also assured Nigerians that the new tax regime will not involve automatic debits from personal bank accounts, stressing that the reforms are designed to be progressive, transparent, and protective of vulnerable citizens.
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed that implementation will proceed as scheduled, stating that the reforms aim to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal framework rather than increase taxes, with exemptions for low-income earners and small businesses.
Despite these assurances, opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have continued to criticise the reforms, warning that economic growth and prosperity cannot be achieved by imposing additional strain on poor Nigerians.
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