Presidency Tells Critics: Tax Laws Are Unstoppable, Objections Too Late

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, has criticized those who voice concerns about the tax rules.

He denied requests for the postponement in an interview with Punch, stating that the law was “unstoppable” and would go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Onanuga dismissed calls for suspension as being incompatible with “right-thinking Nigerians” and called the reforms “revolutionary,” claiming that the new government will increase tax income for the benefit of Nigerians.

“The National Assembly has passed the law,” he declared. The President has approved it. Additionally, some people are only now realizing that they ought to have voiced their concerns long ago.

“The law cannot be stopped. By God’s grace, the implementation will start on January 1, 2026. And there’s nothing to be afraid of. The majority of our various taxes will be harmonized by this development, which also exempts low-income workers from taxation.

However, some are arguing that it ought to be put into practice. It is evident that they do not share the same views as right-thinking Nigerians.

All Nigerians would profit from this ground-breaking law, which will increase tax income. It’s too late to object if they say we shouldn’t implement. The current state of the law is unchangeable.

“In any case, it is already being implemented.”

The administration claims that President Tinubu’s recent signing of four substantial tax reform legislation into law represents the biggest change of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.

The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act are among the statutes that function under the Nigeria Revenue Service.

After a six-month transition period for public education and system alignment, the laws are set to go into force on January 1, 2026.