By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
Public frustration is rising across the country as thousands of Nigerians scramble to obtain their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) ahead of the December 31, 2025, deadline, with many describing the process as punitive, chaotic and insensitive to the harsh economic realities facing citizens.
Visits to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) headquarters in Abuja and state revenue offices in Suleja, Niger State, revealed long queues and overcrowded halls as bank account holders rushed to avoid looming sanctions, including account freezes and restricted access to financial services.
The rush follows repeated warnings by the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, that the new tax laws, covering all forms of income, including digital earnings, foreign payments and even proceeds of illicit activities, will fully take effect on January 1, 2026.
Oyedele maintains that the reforms will widen the tax net, ease the burden on low-income earners and ensure the wealthy pay more, stressing that those earning below the national minimum wage will be exempt from PAYE tax. But citizens say the rollout has been poorly communicated and brutally timed.
•Citizens urge government to consider economic hardship in decision making
At the FCT-IRS office in Abuja, many Nigerians expressed anger that the government had turned to aggressive taxation after removing fuel subsidy, increasing tariffs, and failing to address inflation and unemployment.
A plumber, Alhaji Ajayi Arowolo, said the renewed tax push targets the already struggling poor.
“I’ve never benefited from government in my life. Now they want to take the little I earn. How does this help my family?”
A fish seller at the IBB Market in Suleja, Mrs Janeth Okosun, described the process as “double punishment.”
“I’ve been here since yesterday instead of being in the market to feed my children. This is suffering on top of suffering.”
Motor spare parts dealer Ndubuisi Okoro accused the administration of weaponising taxation.
“After subsidy removal, borrowing and rising data costs, they still want to tax us? Government should let Nigerians breathe.”
Even those who secured their TINs expressed doubts about the government’s motives.
“This is a government of taxes and suffering,” said Mr Joshua Emeh. “There’s no electricity, no water, no roads—but they want more money.”
Officials at the Niger State IRS office acknowledged the surge and warned that queues would worsen as the deadline approaches. They insisted the process is simple and free, requiring only a BVN and basic biodata.
But fiscal analysts say the more profound concern is whether the government can be trusted to use the revenue responsibly.
They warn that corruption and high governance costs could erase any gains from the expanded tax net.
Economist Professor Akpan Ekpo questioned why the government is piling taxes on citizens despite earnings from subsidy removal, customs, and borrowing.
“Government must cut waste, not squeeze citizens further.”
Similarly, another university don, Prof Omo-Ogun Ajayi, urged the administration to reduce bloated ministries, curb foreign trips and block leakages.
“Taxing suffering Nigerians won’t fix an economy leaking from corruption,” he said.
As enforcement draws closer, citizens remain trapped between fear of sanctions and growing distrust in a system they believe prioritises revenue extraction over public welfare—raising doubts about the fairness, timing and credibility of the new tax policy.
