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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The National Opposition Movement (NOM), a coalition of opposition politicians, labour leaders, and civil society figures, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s newly enacted tax reforms, describing it as a “punitive assault” on ordinary Nigerians amid worsening poverty and insecurity.
NOM called for the immediate suspension of the tax reforms’ January 2026 rollout; nationwide consultations involving labour, civil society, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), professionals, and state governments; explicit social protection guarantees; shifting focus to taxing luxury goods, excess profits, monopolies, and corruption rather than poverty; strong legal safeguards for taxpayer rights.
The group stressed that “Nigeria does not suffer from low taxation but from waste, corruption, mismanagement, and policy arrogance. You do not fix government failure by billing the victims.”
At a press conference held on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, NOM coordinator, Hon. Chille Igbawua, warned that Nigeria stands “at the threshold of multidimensional failure,” with citizens facing unprecedented hardships in safety, food affordability, and basic living costs.
It expressed worry on the opaque nature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) saddled with Tax collection and government of France.
“Why would the FIRS enter an MOU with a French agency regarding management of Nigerian tax regime and refuse to publicly disclose the contents of the MOU, especially in the circumstances where Tinubu has made France his second home and business center? Does public interest not dictate that FIRS publish the MOU since Nigerians are worried at the prospect of the business deal with France compromising Nigeria’s strategic national interests” they questioned.
The group accused the Tinubu government of prioritising “political interests and oligarchs” over public welfare, claiming the reforms, set to take effect from January 1, 2026, would impose exploitative burdens, including mandatory tax filings for all adults of taxable age (employed or not) by March 31, 2026, and requirements for business owners to file returns for employees even below taxable thresholds.
“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 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.
“This government is asking Nigerians who have already been brought down on their knees by the weight of poverty and squalor and have nothing left to give, to give more. No. You cannot tax hunger. You cannot tax poverty. And you cannot tax people into prosperity. Since he came to office, President Tinubu has shown where his heart is. It is not with the Nigerian people. It is with the few oligarchs who are attached to his economic and political interests. The bad policies of the administration are intentionally so because President Tinubu is not committed to prosperity of ordinary citizens. He is committed to getting and keeping political power as a tool of creating wealth for himself and his family and friends. This is bad for Nigeria” NOM stressed.
The coalition highlighted the reforms’ timing as “cruel and irrational,” coming after fuel subsidy removal, naira devaluation, soaring inflation, and electricity tariff hikes that have “brought Nigerians to their knees.” They alleged the plan targets low-wage earners and the unemployed in a country with over 70 million jobless citizens, limited internet access, and weak public services.
The opposition also raised concerns over transparency, questioning an undisclosed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and a French tax agency for managing Nigeria’s tax regime. They cited allegations of grand corruption in revenue bodies like NNPC and FIRS, unresolved cases from the previous humanitarian ministry scandal, and recent public accusations by businessman Aliko Dangote against a top regulator.
Referencing Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s recent criticism of “state privatisation” and undue influence by the president’s son, NOM accused the administration of “state capture” and operating as “Tinubu family incorporated,” with no regard for due process or accountability.
Praising organised labour (NLC and TUC) for resisting impoverishing policies and commending opposition leaders who recently spoke against “tyranny,” the coalition aligned itself with broader calls for change.
Warning of potential social and economic fallout if the reforms proceed without pause, the group declared: “Let President Tinubu let Nigerians breathe. Enough of poverty, insecurity, and assaults on opposition voices.”
The four tax reform laws: Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and Joint Revenue Board Act, were signed by President Tinubu in June 2025 to streamline administration, broaden the tax base, and raise revenue. Proponents argue they exempt low earners (below ₦800,000 annually), reduce corporate rates, and eliminate nuisance taxes, but critics like NOM contend they lack adequate relief amid current crises.
Present at the briefing were former Minister of Youths, Comrade Solomin Dalung, former Members of House of Representatives Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. CID Maduabum, former Spokesperson of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in 2023 Barr. Kenneth Okonkwo, Co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls Movement Aisha Yesufu and others.