The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the planned implementation of the newly introduced Tax Reform Law, which is scheduled to take effect on 1st January 2026.
The student body warned that failure of the relevant authorities to heed this call within fourteen (14) days – on or before 14th January, would leave NANS with no option but to commence coordinated nationwide protests to defend the interest of Nigerian students and the broader citizenry.
NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, cited failure of adequate public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement, as well as serious constitutional concerns arising from alleged alterations of the law as reasons for objecting hasty implementation of the tax reform law.
Oladoja said while NANS acknowledges the importance of tax reforms in strengthening national revenue and economic stability, “the current approach for implementing this reform is fundamentally flawed, poorly communicated, and constitutionally questionable, creating the likelihood to deepen resentment and distrust between citizens and government authorities”.
He noted that in addition to the glaring failure in public education, NANS is deeply alarmed by the recent revelation by the House of Representatives regarding alleged alterations in the gazetted tax law, which reportedly differs from the bill duly passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
NANS said this development, if true, depicts the establishment of mechanisms to enable corruption through the new tax law even before it is implemented. “It raises serious constitutional and legislative integrity concerns”
Oladoja further argued that a law whose authenticity is now under investigation cannot, in good conscience, be implemented.
He stressed that with the National Assembly already setting up a committee to review and investigate the alleged alterations, the implementation of the law by 1st January becomes clearly untenable, reckless, and unacceptable.
Part of the statement read: “First, the modalities for creating national orientation about this law are problematic as Nigerians are grossly poorly informed and insufficiently enlightened about the content, scope, breadth, impacts, and long-term implications of the new tax reform law.
“Across the country, there is palpable fear and widespread suspicion that this law, if implemented without proper understanding, will further burden citizens who are already struggling under severe economic hardship.
“It will weaken the viability and capability of many businesses and private Nigerians to cope with the economic shocks that will accompany this policy, particularly when poor citizen education about the law affects the planning and execution of planned financial projects in the coming year.
“A reform of this magnitude requires extensive public education, clarity, and trust-building mechanisms, of which none have been adequately provided.
“It is a shame that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has failed woefully in its responsibility to design and execute an effective, inclusive, and nationwide public enlightenment process.
“For instance, rather than adopting a people-centered communication strategy to sensitise the masses about the new tax law, the FIRS handpicked some social media influencers as ambassadors.
“This approach is indeed very linear, reductionist, isolationary, exclusionary, and elitist because it assumes and generalises that all Nigerians reside on social media platforms.
“Besides, what is more troubling is the deliberate neglect of structured, grassroots-based organizations such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) with extensive memberships and reach that cut across virtually every family, community, and constituency in the country.
“Beyond these identified national organizations, community-based associations, student unions, civil society groups, and traditional community structures should have been actively engaged through town-hall meetings, community dialogues, and grassroots sensitization programs to ensure comprehensive awareness across vertical and horizontal levels of society, further increasing opportunities to correct or realign any misconstrued or misrepresented information about the law.
“We demand the immediate and official announcement of a postponement of the implementation date until: clear-cut, rigorous, and comprehensive nationwide public enlightenment campaigns are conducted through inclusive, community-based engagements.
“The National Assembly concludes its review and investigation into the alleged alterations, with clear public disclosure of the findings.
“While we acknowledge and commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his stated commitment to building a better, stronger, and more prosperous Nigeria, NANS will not support, endorse, or remain silent when repressive policies and hegemonic processes that undermines transparency, inclusiveness, constitutional order, and democratic principles are being set in motion nationally.
“Nigerian students will always stand for reforms that are fair, lawful, inclusive, and people-oriented. However, we will not hesitate to resist, with every legitimate means, policies imposed without trust, clarity, or due process,” it stated.
