Chairman of Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has called on security agencies to remain alert following reports of planned protests against the newly implemented tax laws.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adedeji made the call on Sunday while speaking during an interview on Arise Television, where he cautioned Nigerians against acting on misinformation and unverified claims about the tax reforms.
The NRS boss urged citizens to take time to understand the provisions of the laws and how they affect them individually.
He said, “The only message I have for Nigerians is that people should not listen to rumours. They should analyse the data as it affects them. They should wait for the result, not mass or mob action.”
He stressed that demands by some groups for the suspension of the tax laws are not backed by the constitution, noting that laws passed by the National Assembly cannot be set aside through pressure or protests.
Adedeji said, “No individual, except in an emergency, can suspend the law. The law passed by the national assembly is the law.”
He explained that the tax reform bills were subject to extensive consultations before they were passed, including public hearings held by the National Assembly over more than six months. According to him, concerns raised by stakeholders can only be addressed through amendments, not by stopping the law.
Ruling out any pause in implementation, Adedeji said the reforms are already taking effect, adding that some early outcomes are becoming visible. He said attempts to organise protests at this stage raised security concerns.
He said, “Implementation has started. People have started to see the result, and they say they want to go on a protest. I am using this time to call all the security agencies to be on alert.”
The NRS chairman added that the protests were unlikely to be driven by low-income Nigerians, whom the reforms are designed to protect, but by individuals opposed to the policy for selfish reasons.
The new tax regime, which introduced a harmonised tax system, has continued to generate debate across the country since it took effect on January 1.
The reforms also followed the rebranding of Federal Inland Revenue Service to Nigeria Revenue Service, as part of broader efforts by federal government to improve revenue collection and reduce the tax burden on vulnerable citizens.
