Christian Council Demands Accountability In New Tax Regime

The Christian Council of Nigeria has warned that the new tax regime, expected to come into operation early next year, will fail without the transparent management of resources and a strong culture of accountability.

The president of the council, David Onuoha, made the assertion in his 2025 Christmas message titled, “God’s Plan for Peace in the World.”

Onuoha said, “There is much apprehension about the possible effect of the new tax regime that is expected to come into operation early next year.

“It is doubtful if this is the best way to go, given the fact that mismanagement of resources, very poor culture of accountability, as well as profligacy are the direct causes of poverty in the land,” Onuoha said.

According to him, the government must first ensure success in its anti-corruption efforts before introducing additional tax policies.

“Government is encouraged to ensure that its war against corruption is made successful before embarking on another policy that would multiply pain, misery and hardship amongst an already overstretched populace,” he said.

Onuoha warned against placing additional tax burdens on the suffering citizens, saying, “Taxing already impoverished Nigerians more is like drawing blood from anaemic patients into the blood bank.”

He further cautioned that without transparency and accountability, the objectives of the tax regime would not be realised.

“Unless there is visible/transparent management of resources and an unassailable culture of accountability, the expected gains from the new tax regime would still go the way of enormous resources this nation is blessed with, which unfortunately have been largely mismanaged over the years,” he said.

The CCN president also linked Nigeria’s broader challenges to moral and social failures.

“Our nation, like most parts of the world, is in dire need of peace,” he said, noting that insecurity manifesting in “terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, etc, is a reflection of the near absence of love and its component parts of justice, equity and fairness.”

On governance, he urged fairness in public administration, saying, “government should prioritise fairness, equity and justice in its dealings and operations.”

He added that “ensuring that these virtues guide policies and decisions in the distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities, as well as equal treatment of Nigerians irrespective of tribes, tongue or faith, is all we need to stabilise the polity.”

Onuoha said, “Lack of love for our neighbours and country, other than paucity of resources, is the bane of the Nigerian nation.”

He stressed the moral foundation of peace, saying, “Jesus Christ is God’s gift for peace in the world,” adding that “love for God and one’s neighbour as well as doing unto others as you would like them to do unto you remains the foundation for peace.”