The National Opposition Movement (NOM), a coalition of opposition politicians, labour leaders, and civil society figures, on Wednesday, December 17, demanded the immediate suspension of president Bola Tinubu’s newly enacted tax reform policy, describing it as an assault on poor Nigerians amid worsening poverty and insecurity.
At a press conference held on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, NOM coordinator and spokesman, Hon. Chille Igbawua, warned that Nigeria stands on the threshold of multidimensional failure, with citizens facing unprecedented hardships in safety, food affordability, and basic living costs.
The group highlighted that insecurity has made travel unsafe across many parts of the country, while hunger, homelessness, and joblessness have become widespread, leaving millions struggling to meet basic needs.
It noted that Nigeria’s deteriorating social conditions are now reflected in global development and quality-of-life indicators, placing the country among the lowest-ranked nations, even below some less-endowed West African neighbours.
According to NOM, the situation is exacerbated by the federal government’s fixation on political survival and elite interests rather than policies that protect citizens and rebuild the economy.
The movement warned that Nigeria’s democratic system risks collapse if growing public discontent continues to be met with indifference and repression.
These concerns, the group said, prompted the formation of the NOM as a platform for patriotic Nigerians to monitor governance, security, and economic management, and to speak out against policies deemed harmful to the majority.
NOM commended a recent joint statement by opposition politicians condemning alleged authoritarian tendencies in governance, praising the signatories for speaking out during widespread hardship.
It also expressed solidarity with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for opposing economic policies that have caused severe hardship for workers and ordinary citizens.
The coalition strongly criticised the federal government’s plan to roll out the new tax regime in January 2026, calling it punitive, ill-timed, and insensitive to the realities facing households and small businesses.
It argued that the proposed framework would impose additional burdens on citizens already reeling from fuel subsidy removal, currency depreciation, rising food prices, and increasing electricity tariffs, measures that have exposed Nigerians to severe economic shocks without adequate social protection.
The group described the policy as an assault on the livelihoods of low-income earners, the unemployed, and small business owners, rather than genuine tax reform.
NOM particularly faulted provisions requiring all adults of taxable age, whether employed or not, to file tax returns, as well as obligations on employers to file returns for workers earning below the taxable threshold.
It calls these measures unrealistic in a country with high unemployment, limited digital infrastructure, and weak public institutions.
The movement further warned that the tax regime would stifle small and medium-scale enterprises already operating in a hostile business environment, noting the government’s failure to provide meaningful support while increasing regulatory and fiscal pressures.
It accused the Tinubu administration of demanding greater sacrifices from citizens while allowing public office holders and political elites to have unchecked privileges.
Beyond economic issues, NOM claimed widespread corruption and a lack of transparency in key institutions, claiming revenue-generating agencies are increasingly shielded from scrutiny.
The group questioned the opacity surrounding certain international tax-related agreements and cited unresolved corruption allegations against senior officials and regulatory authorities as evidence of state capture and weakening institutional standards.
It argued that higher taxation under such conditions would not improve public services, as Nigerians are being asked to pay more without assurances of better healthcare, education, security, or job creation, and that recent reforms suggest increased revenue has largely funded expanded governance costs rather than productive investments.
The National Opposition Movement demanded the immediate suspension of the January 2026 tax rollout, calling for nationwide consultations involving labour unions, civil society, SMEs, professionals, and state governments.
It further demanded explicit social protection guarantees, stronger legal safeguards for taxpayer rights, and a policy shift towards taxing luxury goods, excess profits, monopolies, and corruption rather than low incomes and poverty.
“Nigeria does not suffer from low taxation but from waste, corruption, mismanagement, and policy arrogance,” the group stated.
“You do not fix government failure by billing the victims.”
NOM warned that forcing the policy through without consultation would hold the government responsible for any resulting social and economic consequences.
The coalition emphasised that its position is a warning, not a threat, amid rising public frustration that could further strain social cohesion and democratic stability.
It urged the federal government to ease pressure on opposition figures, labour leaders, and civil society actors, and to refocus on restoring economic stability, security, and public trust, stating that Nigerians deserve relief and policies prioritising national interest over political or personal gain, lest the country’s crisis deepen at a critical moment in its democratic journey.
Comments