The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to suspend the planned implementation of the newly enacted tax reform laws, warning that failure to do so will trigger coordinated nationwide protests.
The students’ body raised concerns over what it described as a flawed, poorly communicated, and constitutionally questionable implementation process ahead of the January 1, 2026 commencement date.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, NANS accused the government of failing to adequately enlighten Nigerians on the content, scope, and long-term implications of the reforms.
According to the association, the lack of public awareness has heightened anxiety among citizens already battling economic hardship.
“Nigerians are grossly poorly informed and insufficiently enlightened about the content, scope, breadth, impacts, and long-term implications of the new tax reform law,” the statement said, adding that reforms of such magnitude require extensive public education and trust-building.
NANS also criticised the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for what it described as an elitist and ineffective sensitisation strategy, accusing the agency of relying heavily on social media influencers while excluding large segments of the population who are not active online.
“It is a shame that FIRS has failed woefully in its responsibility to design and execute an effective, inclusive, and nationwide public enlightenment process,” the association stated.
Beyond public awareness concerns, NANS expressed alarm over claims by members of the House of Representatives that the gazetted versions of the tax laws may differ from those passed by the National Assembly.
“This development, if true, raises serious constitutional and legislative integrity concerns. A law whose authenticity is under investigation cannot, in good conscience, be implemented,” NANS said.
The students’ body therefore demanded an immediate postponement of the implementation pending comprehensive nationwide sensitisation and the conclusion of the National Assembly’s review of the alleged discrepancies.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier signed four tax reform bills into law — the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act — described by the government as the most far-reaching overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.
The reforms previously faced resistance from some lawmakers, particularly from the North. The controversy intensified after a House of Representatives member, Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged discrepancies between the laws passed by the legislature and the versions later gazetted.
The Minority Caucus of the House has also called for a halt to implementation pending clarification.
However, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has maintained that the January 1, 2026 implementation date remains unchanged, insisting that the reforms are intended to provide economic relief for Nigerians.