Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government (FG) to suspend the implementation of Nigeria’s newly gazetted tax laws.
The former governor of Anambra State made the call in a statement he posted on his X page yesterday.
Citing a critical report from global accounting firm KPMG, Obi warned that the new fiscal regime is riddled with “31 red flags”, ranging from drafting errors to policy contradictions.
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He argued that forcing an incomprehensible tax system on a struggling populace is not a reform, but quite frankly, extortion.
Obi’s intervention follows revelations that the National Revenue Service (NRS) held private meetings with KPMG to address errors in the legislation.
The former governor questioned how the “average Nigerian” is expected to comply with laws so complex that even global experts required closed-door sessions to navigate them.
The review identified 31 problem areas, highlighting several critical issues.
These include drafting blunders, where glaring inconsistencies appear in the legal text; administrative gaps, reflecting a lack of clarity on how taxes will be collected; and policy contradictions, where certain rules clash with existing economic realities.
“Taxation transcends mere fiscal policy; it represents a social contract,” Obi stated. “You cannot enforce a social contract that isn’t understood or trusted.”
Obi highlighted a growing disconnect between the government’s tax drive and the reality of life for Nigerians.
He noted that while the government focuses on extraction, citizens are still waiting for the relief promised after the removal of fuel subsidies.
In 2026, taxpayers are facing a harsh reality, with food and transport prices reaching all-time highs.
Purchasing power is rapidly declining amid soaring inflation, leaving many struggling to make ends meet.
Obi criticised the government for bypassing months of dialogue with businesses and civil society before gazetting the final tax laws, calling the process a failure of consultation.
He characterised the current approach as a hasty pursuit of collection without securing a national consensus.
Obi warned that without trust, taxes feel like punishment, and without public value, they amount to robbery.
“What we need is a government that listens, communicates effectively, and prioritises building national consensus,” he said. “Nigeria cannot afford to place further burdens on its already struggling citizens.”
The Presidency has previously defended the laws as a fiscal reset, but with the House of Representatives already investigating allegations of “forged” insertions in the gazetted versions,
Obi’s call for a total pause adds significant pressure on the President Bola Tinubu administration.
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