Opposition Movement Rejects Tinubu’s Tax Agenda

The coalition of opposition figures has  accused the federal government of failing in its primary responsibility to protect lives and welfare, while pursuing economic policies they say are further impoverishing the population.

At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the group, operating under the umbrella of the Nigeria Opposition Movement, said the country has reached a dangerous threshold of multidimensional failure, warning that the continued mismanagement of the economy and erosion of democratic accountability under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could have far-reaching consequences for national stability and the wider West African sub-region.

The movement Spokesman, Honourable Chille Igbawua said insecurity has made travel across many parts of the country unsafe, while hunger, homelessness and joblessness have become widespread, leaving millions of Nigerians struggling to meet basic needs.

It argued that Nigeria’s deteriorating social conditions are now reflected in global development and quality-of-life indicators, which place the country among the lowest-ranked nations, even below some of its less endowed neighbours in West Africa.

According to the group, the situation is being worsened by what it described as the federal government’s fixation on political survival and elite interests rather than policies aimed at protecting citizens and rebuilding the economy.

They warned that Nigeria’s democratic system is at risk of collapse if growing public discontent continues to be met with indifference and repression.

The opposition coalition said these concerns have led to the formation of the Nigeria Opposition Movement, which it described as a platform for patriotic Nigerians determined to monitor developments in governance, security and economic management, and to speak out against policies they consider harmful to the majority of citizens.

The group commended a recent joint statement by opposition politicians condemning what they described as authoritarian tendencies in governance, praising the signatories for speaking out at a time of widespread hardship.

It also expressed solidarity with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for their opposition to economic policies it said have resulted in severe hardship for workers and ordinary Nigerians.

The movement said many Nigerians can no longer afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, electricity, rent or healthcare, describing the prevailing economic conditions as unprecedented in recent history. Against this background.

It strongly criticised the federal government’s plan to introduce a new tax regime from January, describing it as punitive, ill-timed and insensitive to the realities facing households and small businesses.

According to the group, the proposed tax framework would impose additional burdens on citizens already struggling under the combined effects of fuel subsidy removal, currency depreciation, rising food prices and increasing electricity tariffs.

It argued that the policy, rather than constituting genuine tax reform, represents an assault on the livelihoods of low-income earners, the unemployed and small business owners.

The movement faulted provisions requiring all adults of taxable age, whether employed or not, to file tax returns, as well as obligations placed on employers to file returns for all workers, including those earning below the taxable threshold. It described such measures as unrealistic in a country with high unemployment, limited access to digital infrastructure and weak public institutions.

It further warned that the proposed tax regime would stifle small and medium-scale enterprises already operating in a hostile business environment, noting that the government has failed to provide meaningful support to businesses while increasing regulatory and fiscal pressures.

The opposition coalition accused the Tinubu administration of consistently demanding greater sacrifices from citizens while allowing public office holders and political elites to enjoy unchecked privileges. It said the removal of subsidies and other reforms had exposed Nigerians to severe economic shocks without corresponding social protection measures.

Beyond economic concerns, the group alleged widespread corruption and lack of transparency in key government institutions, claiming that revenue-generating agencies are increasingly shielded from public scrutiny.

It questioned the opacity surrounding certain international agreements related to tax administration and warned that secrecy in public finance undermines trust and accountability.

The movement also cited unresolved corruption allegations involving senior officials and growing public accusations against regulatory authorities as evidence of what it described as extensive state capture and weakening institutional standards.

It argued that higher taxation under such conditions would not translate into improved public services, noting that Nigerians are being asked to pay more without clear assurances of better healthcare, education, security or job creation.

According to the group, the experience of recent economic reforms suggests that increased government revenue has largely funded an expanded cost of governance rather than productive investment.

The Nigeria Opposition Movement demanded the immediate suspension of the proposed tax regime, calling for broad national consultations involving labour unions, civil society organisations, professionals, small business groups and state governments before any new tax measures are implemented.

It also called for explicit social protection guarantees, stronger legal safeguards for taxpayers and a shift in focus towards taxing luxury consumption, monopolies, excess profits and corruption rather than low incomes and poverty.

“Nigeria does not suffer from low taxation, but from waste, corruption and mismanagement,” the group said, warning that forcing the tax policy through without consultation would make the government responsible for any social and economic consequences.

The coalition said its position should be seen as a warning rather than a threat, stressing that public frustration is rising and that continued hardship could further strain social cohesion and democratic stability.

It urged the Federal Government to ease what it described as growing pressure on opposition figures, labour leaders and civil society actors, and to refocus governance on restoring economic stability, security and public trust.

The group said Nigerians deserve relief from hardship and policies that prioritise national interest over political or personal gain, warning that failure to do so could deepen the country’s crisis at a critical moment in its democratic journey.