Nigerian Government alleges saboteurs behind misinformation about tax reforms

*The Federal Government restates the new tax laws are pro-poor, and are formulated to recalibrate national revenue generation, and harmonisation of multiple taxes in the economy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As Nigeria prepares for implementation of its new-fangled tax laws from January 1, 2026, the Federal Government has alleged some individuals and groups are attempting to undermine the success of ongoing tax reforms.

The government restated that the reformed tax policies are pro-poor, and are designed to recalibrate national revenue generation.

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Key provisions include exemptions for small businesses, reduced tax burdens for workers and the middle class, lower corporate tax rates, harmonisation of multiple taxes across Federal, state and local governments, streamlined compliance procedures, and the elimination of nuisance taxes to boost investment.

ConsumerConnect reports Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, noted this Thursday, December 18, 2025, during the inauguration of a Joint Committee of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, in Abuja, FCT.

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Fasua said the Joint Committee would work to counter misinformation and disinformation surrounding the reforms.

He alleged such negative narratives are being spread by saboteurs in the country’s economy.

Reforms are pro-poor policies to rejig revenue generation, says Fasua

The Presidential aide said: “People are trying to ensure that, maybe, if they can manage to do it, the reforms do not succeed.

“However, we must quickly say that despite this resistance, this is a pro-poor policy — a policy on recalibrating the revenues of this country that ensures the poorest Nigerians are not touched, except positively.”

Fasua also emphasised that the tax reforms were not designed to increase the tax burden on citizens or small businesses.

He particularly cited the partial opening of the Brass–Nembe Road in the South-South region as an example of public infrastructure made possible through improved tax revenue.

He further stated: “Recently, the Brass–Nembe Road was partially opened.

“That’s the kind of thing that will happen when we get better revenue and taxes.

“Of course, we will also rely on the experiences of other countries — how they have done it and how they have fared.”

Oyedele: Tax reforms designed to ease burden on Nigerians

Earlier, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, also had clarified during a courtesy visit to the NOA that the reforms were intended to ease, not worsen, the burden on Nigerians.

Oyedele decried the widespread misinformation that has continued to fuel unnecessary fear and anger over the policies among Nigerians.

In his address at the forum, Alhaji Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of NOA, represented by Nura Kobi, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, said the agency would deploy its 16 communication platforms across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to address public misconceptions about the new tax laws.

Issa-Onilu said although the reforms are scheduled for implementation from January 1 next year, Nigerians must clearly understand what the policies mean for them, why they are necessary, and how they will be implemented.

The Director-General stared: “Across the world, public policies rarely fail because they are poorly designed; they fail because they are poorly communicated.

“When the message is not understood, the messenger must return.”

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