The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to suspend the planned implementation of the newly introduced tax reform laws, citing a flawed process, poor communication, and constitutional concerns.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by its national president, Olushola Oladoja, NANS raised concerns ahead of the January 1, 2026 commencement date, alleging inadequate public enlightenment and possible alterations to the versions passed by the National Assembly.
The association warned that failure by relevant authorities to act within 14 days would trigger coordinated nationwide protests. While reiterating support for fair and people-oriented reforms, NANS said it would resist policies imposed “without trust, clarity, or due process.”
According to the students’ body, Nigerians remain poorly informed about the content, scope, and long-term implications of the new tax laws, a situation it said has heightened fear among citizens already facing economic hardship. It added that reforms of such magnitude require extensive public education and trust-building, which it claimed have not been adequately provided.
NANS also accused the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of failing to conduct inclusive nationwide sensitisation, describing its approach as elitist and overly reliant on social media influencers, thereby excluding large segments of the population.
Beyond sensitisation concerns, the association expressed alarm over claims by the House of Representatives that the gazetted tax laws may differ from the versions passed by lawmakers, warning that such discrepancies raise serious constitutional and legislative integrity issues. It demanded an immediate postponement of implementation until nationwide sensitisation is completed and the National Assembly concludes its review.
President Tinubu had signed four tax reform bills into law—the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act—described by the government as the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
The reforms have faced opposition from some federal lawmakers, particularly from the North, with controversy deepening after a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged discrepancies between the passed bills and the gazetted versions. The Minority Caucus of the House has also called for a halt to implementation pending resolution of the claims.
However, the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has maintained that the January 1, 2026 implementation date remains unchanged, insisting the reforms are designed to provide relief to Nigerians.
