By Seyi Odewale
The Nigeria Labour Congress has urged Nigerians to reject any tax law it says has been distorted or falsified, warning that such practices erode public trust and undermine fiscal justice.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the call in his 2025 Christmas message, insisting that transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness must guide tax reforms affecting citizens and workers.
Ajaero said allegations of alterations and forgery surrounding specific tax provisions raise serious credibility concerns, stressing that Nigerians must collectively resist policies perceived as being manipulated or unjust.
“Any tax system riddled with apparent distortion or outright forgery is unacceptable and should be rejected by all,” he said, calling for a framework anchored on tax justice where the wealthy pay their fair share and regressive levies are eliminated.
He further argued that meaningful reform cannot be achieved through hurried legislation driven by political interests, but through patient lawmaking that reflects broad consensus and public ownership.
“It is better to carefully craft a law that is widely accepted than to rush into one burdened with errors and political manipulation,” the NLC president said, adding that workers would continue to mobilise against policies that deepen economic hardship.
The labour leader also called for social justice, insisting that access to quality healthcare, education, and security must accompany any fiscal reforms, while workers’ rights and welfare are protected.
The controversy follows concerns raised by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, who alleged discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted, claiming this amounted to a breach of legislative authority.
President Bola Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law on June 26, 2025, aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax system and improving revenue administration. However, the reforms have continued to attract resistance, with lawmakers, civil society groups, and some state governments demanding clarity over the integrity and implications of the new laws.
