APC Defends New Tax Regime, Says It’s Not Against The Poor

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that the Federal Government’s new tax reform laws were targeted at the poor or intended to further burden struggling Nigerians.

The party described criticisms of the policy as a wave of misinformation, sensationalism, and deliberate political mischief aimed at misleading the public.

In a statement issued by the state chapter’s spokesman, Seye Oladejo, the APC said the reform was designed to protect low-income earners and introduce a fairer, more efficient tax system in line with global best practices.

According to Oladejo, Nigerians within the lowest income brackets are either fully exempt from taxation or will experience reduced tax obligations under the new regime.

He stressed that the reform focuses on efficiency, equity, and accountability, noting that it was not a punitive policy.

“The reform is deliberately structured to protect low-income earners, expand exemptions, and create a more progressive and humane tax system,” Oladejo said, dismissing opposition criticisms as alarmist and misleading.

The APC spokesman said Nigeria could no longer operate a modern economy with an outdated, fragmented, and oil-dependent tax framework, adding that the country had suffered for years from multiple taxation, overlapping mandates, revenue leakages, and weak enforcement.

He explained that the new tax law addresses these long-standing issues by simplifying the system and improving compliance.

Oladejo further noted that the reform would benefit businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), by removing nuisance taxes, easing compliance, and providing a more predictable fiscal environment.

“For large corporations, the reform ensures fairness by requiring profitable entities to contribute their equitable share to national development. This reform is pro-growth, pro-investment, and pro-Nigeria,” he added.