The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of placing revenue considerations above the welfare of Nigerians, following his decision to proceed with the implementation of the new tax laws from January 1, 2026, despite widespread criticism.
President Tinubu had, on Tuesday, reaffirmed that the new tax regime would take effect as scheduled. According to him, the reforms are not intended to impose additional taxes on Nigerians but to harmonise existing tax laws. He maintained that although concerns have been raised by various stakeholders, none is substantial enough to justify halting or delaying the process.
The PDP, however, strongly disagreed with the President’s position. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party renewed its demand for an immediate suspension of the implementation date, citing serious discrepancies between the version of the Tax Act approved by the National Assembly and the one eventually gazetted.
Ememobong said Nigerians from different sectors have expressed outrage over what they described as the surreptitious insertion of “dangerous provisions” that lawmakers had earlier removed. According to the PDP, citizens are demanding clarity on how such changes were made, who was responsible, and why due process was allegedly bypassed.
Rather than address these concerns head-on, the PDP accused the Presidency of downplaying the controversy and insisting on enforcing the law as scheduled. The party argued that this posture reflects an administration more concerned with financial gains than with the well-being of the populace.
“The insistence on maintaining the commencement date, despite unresolved issues, clearly shows that this government prioritises money over Nigerians,” the statement said. The PDP also linked the current situation to what it described as the administration’s “reckless” removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, which it said plunged many Nigerians into economic hardship.
The opposition party further reminded President Tinubu that he holds office at the pleasure of the people and should govern with humility and openness. It stressed that listening to citizens is not optional, especially given the level of public discontent surrounding the tax reforms.
Drawing a comparison with the PDP-led government in 2012, the party noted that the administration at the time responded to public protests by engaging Nigerians and adjusting its policies. It urged the current President to adopt a similar approach by suspending the tax law’s commencement until a thorough investigation is carried out.
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The PDP concluded that public trust in laws depends on confidence that they were properly debated and approved by elected representatives. It warned that any suspicion of illegal alterations to legislation affecting all Nigerians is sufficient grounds to delay implementation, insisting that the President must act in the interest of the people rather than financial or political considerations.
