The Federal Government has raised concern over an alleged plot to undermine the implementation of Nigeria’s newly signed tax reforms.
Authorities say deliberate misinformation and coordinated false narratives are being pushed to weaken public trust and frustrate the policy before full rollout.
The alarm was raised in Abuja during the inauguration of a Joint Committee involving the National Orientation Agency and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
The event focused on aligning public communication and safeguarding the reform agenda.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, accused unnamed individuals of actively working against the success of the tax laws.
He said the actions go beyond criticism and are targeted attempts to confuse Nigerians and stall implementation.
Fasua explained that the new tax framework was carefully designed to protect low-income earners while strengthening national revenue.
According to him, the reforms aim to rebalance the tax system in a way that supports economic stability and social fairness.
“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,” he said.
He added that the newly inaugurated committee has been tasked with countering false claims and clarifying public concerns.
The committee is expected to engage citizens, correct misleading narratives, and explain the real intent of the reforms in clear terms.
The development comes amid growing political debate around the tax laws. Recently, a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamman Dasuki, alleged that there were discrepancies between the versions of the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and those later gazetted for public use.
Following the allegation, the National Assembly acknowledged the concern and assured Nigerians that the matter would be investigated and addressed appropriately. Lawmakers maintained that legislative integrity would be upheld.
The new tax laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. The Federal Government has described the timeline as necessary to allow proper sensitisation, alignment of agencies, and smooth transition for businesses and citizens.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the tax bills into law in June 2025 as part of broader economic reforms aimed at boosting government revenue and reducing fiscal pressure.
