Country Braces For Uprising As Citizens React To Fresh Tax Legislation

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has begun mobilising students nationwide to protest the rollout of the new tax laws, which officially took effect on Thursday, January 1, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The student body has declared January 14, 2026, as a National Day of Action, planning a mass protest in Abuja against what it calls the controversial and disputed Tax Reform Law.

This move comes despite President Bola Tinubu insisting that there were “no substantial issues” that would justify halting the reform process.

The tax reforms have generated significant controversy, amid claims that the versions of the laws gazetted differ from those passed by the National Assembly. Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the House of Representatives’ minority caucus, have urged a pause on implementation until clarifications are made.

House of Representatives member Abdussamad Dasuki alleged discrepancies between the bills passed by lawmakers and the copies later gazetted.

In response, NANS President Olushola Oladoja criticised the implementation, calling it premature and anti-democratic. He said enforcing the law from January 1 while unresolved issues remain “is not only unfortunate but sets a dangerous precedent for a government claiming commitment to participatory reforms and democratic principles.”

Oladoja added that the Presidency’s insistence on proceeding amounted to “a grave insult to Nigerians,” reflecting “hegemony, high-handedness, and disregard for citizens.”

He confirmed that students would gather at Unity Fountain, Abuja, on January 14, before marching to the Presidential Villa.

“As NANS President, I call on all NANS structures—campus chapters, state joints, zonal coordinators, and the national secretariat—to begin immediate, massive mobilisation for a peaceful mass protest,” Oladoja said.

“Our demand is clear and non-negotiable: the immediate suspension of the deeply controversial Tax Reform Law.”

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also warned that the laws could face legal challenges if concerns about their authenticity remain unresolved. Speaking to journalists in Ilawe-Ekiti, Falana said the government should have used the closing days of 2025 to address issues and release “clean copies” of the legislation.

“Until clean copies are issued, the commencement of the law cannot be justified,” he said, alleging that inserted provisions could amount to forgery. Falana also criticised the National Assembly for not publishing the laws online and threatened legal action over what he described as discriminatory tax exemptions for wealthy companies operating in Free Trade Zones.