The tax reforms policy of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has again divided Nigerians just as the government commenced Implementation of the tax laws on 1st January, 2026.
The Chairman of the presidential committee on tax reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele on Wednesday, said Nigerians have nothing to fear, even as the government implements the policy. He noted that contrary to the fear of Nigerians, the four laws are meant to protect low income earners and SMEs.
Notwithstanding the assurances of the government, Nigerians are sharply divided over the tax laws. A University Don, Dr. Emmanuel Ekpo said discrepancies over the tax laws does not give Nigerians the confidence that it was done in the best interest of the people. According to him “The effort of Oyedele and FIRS Chairman, Zack Oyedeji during the public presentation of the bills did not convince Nigerians that this will not result in more burden on the already overwhelmed Nigerians and the hardships they face daily”.
Also, the controversy around which version of the bill that was passed by Mr. President, added to the uncertainty. A Postgraduate student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Nneka Ojolo said she is confused about the tax laws concerning VAT on mobile bank transfers, USSD transactions and card issuance fees, which is said to begin on Monday 19th January, 2026, by banks and other financial institutions. In her words, “if this is true,Nigerians are set for hell, it means that if I do a transfer of #1m naira, N75,000 naira would be deducted, how will this work, I consider this wickedness, and burdensome for Nigerians”.
According to Mr Tolulope Ojemuyiwa, a lecturer at Nigerian Institute of Journalism, “The tax laws are not bad, but we do not do a good thing at a bad time. For you to implement anything to do with tax, there must be proper structures put in place, the government must make sure that all is working well in the system. People don’t understand anything about the laws, how it will affect them directly, or farmers or their purchasing power after this, and that it’s creating fear of the unknown and imminent hardships”.
Speaking to our reporter on the same matter, a Communications Consultant, Mr Bolaji Adeniji, however said that Nigerians should exercise patience and see how the implementation goes in the next few weeks. “I urge Nigerians to give it time, and we can review it after a while” he added.
Damilola Agbede, Nneka Ojolo, Aderonke Aworinde, Hassanat Tijani, Olaitan Olagunju, Setofunmi Fasesin-Gbolahan, Akomaye Monique, Bolaji Adeniji, Seth Ozoemenam
