The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government over Nigeria’s newly introduced tax laws, describing them as insensitive and disconnected from the economic realities faced by ordinary citizens.’
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, faulted the reforms, insisting they would worsen the suffering of Nigerians.
“The kind of hardship that Nigerians are faced with today is unprecedented,” Abdullahi said. “Yet the government keeps denying the reality of the majority. Look at this tax. They keep telling us the poor will not pay, but we know that is all lies.”
The Federal Government recently introduced four tax reform laws, which came into force on January 1, 2026. The reforms immediately generated controversy following claims of discrepancies between the versions passed by the National Assembly and those later gazetted.
In response to public concerns, the House of Representatives released Certified True Copies of the laws to clarify their contents and ensure transparency.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, dismissed some circulating versions as “fake” drafts, insisting that the official laws reflect the legislature’s intent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended the tax reforms, maintaining that they are designed to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal system.
According to the Presidency, the new laws include exemptions for small businesses and low-income earners, measures the government says will shield the poor while broadening the tax base.
Despite these assurances, opposition figures have continued to criticise the reforms. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have both described the tax laws as burdensome, arguing that they come at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with rising living costs and economic uncertainty.