Ahead of the new tax regime scheduled to commence in 2026, the Young Progressives Party, YPP, has called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand accountability from government.
YPP made the call in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Wale Martins, through which it also extended New Year greetings to Nigerians.
The party urged citizens not to lose faith in the Nigeria of their collective dreams, even though the journey, it noted, has been difficult and often discouraging.
According to YPP, the sovereignty of the country must never translate into docility or silence in the face of bad governance.
“Democracy thrives when citizens remain vigilant and hold leaders accountable. Nigerians must begin to ask critical questions, demand answers and closely scrutinise public spending, especially with the advent of the new tax law, which is expected to widen the tax net and significantly increase government revenue,” the statement said.
“Increased revenue without transparency, accountability and prudence will only deepen public mistrust and hardship.”
The party called on Nigerians not to be discouraged by the experiences of previous elections, stressing that “citizens must mobilise like never before in this penultimate election year to reclaim their power at the ballot in 2027 and vote out incompetent, corrupt and insensitive leadership. The future of our democracy depends on active participation, not apathy.”
Furthermore, YPP warned strongly against the weaponisation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-corruption agencies against political opponents.
“The fight against corruption must be sincere, impartial and devoid of political bias. Selective justice weakens institutions and erodes public confidence in governance,” it added.
The party also called for an urgent forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited “to unravel the disturbing mystery surrounding the unaccounted $40 billion reportedly identified in its records.”
The party stated: “This staggering sum is almost equivalent to Nigeria’s foreign reserves and must be treated with the utmost urgency, transparency and seriousness in the national interest.”
On the new tax law, YPP emphasised that Nigeria’s major challenge has never been revenue generation, but rather the reckless, wasteful and opaque expenditure of public funds.
“Nigerians are not opposed to paying taxes, rather, they are deeply concerned about the lack of transparency, probity and discipline in the management of our commonwealth.
“It is unacceptable for taxpayers’ money to be used to fund religious pilgrimages, purchase private jets and yachts, procure luxury SUVs for members of the National Assembly and sustain the looting and frivolous lifestyle of a reckless political elite.
“We therefore call on the government to urgently resolve all discrepancies associated with the new tax law before implementation.
“More importantly, those responsible for the discrepancies, amounting to a grave assault on democratic governance must be thoroughly investigated, apprehended and punished in accordance with the law,” the party stated.
On national security, YPP acknowledged and commended the renewed commitment to tackling insecurity across the country, particularly following the recent international spotlight on Nigeria’s security challenges.
“We also commend the recent airstrikes against terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State conducted by the United States in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces,” it said.
On the ongoing electoral law amendment process, the YPP called on the National Assembly to meticulously consider all stakeholder recommendations and ensure the speedy passage of a credible and people-oriented electoral framework.
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
