The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Nigerians to reject what it described as a “distorted” or falsified tax law, warning that irregularities in the formulation of fiscal policies undermine public trust and economic justice.
Gatekeepers News reports that the call was made by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in his 2025 Christmas message, where he stressed the need for inclusivity, transparency and fairness in tax reforms.
“Together, in this season and beyond, we must insist on Tax Justice where the rich pay their fair share and all forms of regressive taxation are removed,” Ajaero said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“Any tax system that is mired in apparent distortion and outright forgery is unacceptable and should therefore be rejected by all,” he added.
Ajaero said genuine reform must prioritise social and tax justice, ensuring that all citizens have access to quality healthcare, education and security, while workers’ rights and rewards are protected.
According to him, sustainable reform requires patience, transparency and broad public ownership rather than hurried legislation driven by political interests.
“It is better to patiently craft a law that is broadly crafted and owned than rush into one filled with serious errors and outright political manipulations,” he said.
The NLC president called on Nigerians to remain united in demanding equitable governance, reiterating the congress’ commitment to mobilising workers against policies that worsen economic hardship.
The call comes amid controversy over Nigeria’s recent tax reforms. A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, recently raised concerns over alleged discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and released to the public.
Dasuki argued that his legislative rights had been violated, claiming that the gazetted tax laws did not reflect what lawmakers debated and approved on the floor of the House.
President Bola Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law on June 26, 2025. The laws — the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act — are collectively referred to as the Nigerian Tax Reform Acts.
The reforms are aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax system, broadening the tax base and improving efficiency, including replacing the Federal Inland Revenue Service with the Nigeria Revenue Service, which has expanded oversight powers.
However, the laws have faced growing resistance following claims that the versions gazetted by the executive differ substantially from those approved by lawmakers. In response, the House of Representatives has set up a committee to investigate allegations of forgery, while civil society groups and some state governors have expressed concerns over potential economic hardship and revenue-sharing implications.
