New Tax Reform Law Against Nigerians’ Growth, PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a blistering critique of the current administration’s fiscal policies, asserting that the proposed Tax Reform Law Against Nigerians will stifle economic recovery and deepen the poverty crisis across the country. In a strongly worded communiqué, the main opposition party called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend the implementation of the new tax statutes scheduled to take effect in early 2026. The PDP argued that the government is prioritizing revenue generation and “putting money above the well being of Nigerians” at a time when the citizens are already reeling from the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the national currency.
According to the party’s leadership, the timing of these reforms is not only insensitive but also strategically flawed. They pointed out that the aggressive taxation of goods and services will inevitably lead to a spike in inflation, further eroding the purchasing power of the average household. The PDP’s statement detailed concerns that the increased levies on corporate entities and individual earners would discourage investment and force small businesses to shut down, thereby worsening the unemployment rate. “You cannot tax a hungry people to prosperity,” the party stated, urging the presidency to look toward cutting the high cost of governance rather than squeezing the pockets of the vulnerable.
Furthermore, the opposition highlighted a lack of transparency and inclusive consultation in the drafting of the tax bills. They noted that several key stakeholders, including state governors and industrial unions, have expressed reservations about the potential for double taxation and the uneven distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenues. The PDP warned that pushing forward with these laws without addressing the fundamental concerns of the sub-national governments could spark avoidable friction within the federation. They characterized the administration’s approach as an “autocratic economic model” that ignores the harsh realities of the current Nigerian marketplace.
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As the debate intensifies, the PDP has challenged the Federal Government to publish a detailed social impact assessment of the reforms. The party maintains that any policy that fails to provide a clear safety net for the poor is a direct assault on the collective growth of the nation. By demanding a suspension of the acts, the opposition is positioning itself as the voice of the masses, calling for a “human face” to be applied to the nation’s economic restructuring. For now, the call remains clear, the government must reconsider its stance on the Tax Reform Law Against Nigerians to prevent a total collapse of the socio-economic fabric of the country.