*Says Nigerians are already over burdened with taxes
By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
The National Opposition Movement, (NOM), a group consisting of members of the opposition political parties in the country, has called for the immediate suspension of the January take-off date of the tax plan by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The group made the call at a press conference addressed by its Interim Leader and erstwhile member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chille Igbawua on Wednesday in Abuja.
The NOM pointed out that there was the pertinent need for nationwide consultation involving labour, civil society, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), professionals, and states governments among others before taking such decision.
According to group’s interim leader, “Let us be clear, what President Tinubu is rolling out in January is not a tax reform; it is an assault on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians who has not hidden his contempt and whose prosperity is not part of the agenda of his government.
“According to the new tax law, all adults of taxable age, whether employed or not, must file a tax return between January 1 and 31st March 2026 after which sanction for non-filling will begin to apply.
“For owners of companies, you must file for all your employees even if they are paid below the taxable bracket. Remember, you cannot make the filling if you do not have Tax Identification Number. This is so mindless.
“In a country where over 70 million are unemployed, where people do not have good access to internet services and where the level of service delivery from state institutions are poor or almost non-existent, President Tinubu has set up an exploitative racket against innocent Nigerians.
“This reads like a strategy from the infamous Lagos governance. Small and medium businesses are struggling to survive under a bad policy environment. Yet, Tinubu continues to pile pressure on them and does not provide any serious business support
“By the new tax plan, Nigerians earning less than minimum wage will be heavily taxed.
“The government has removed all subsidies and exposed low wage earners and the unemployed to rate shock. Still, the government intends to overtax them, creating damaging human development and truncating any prospect of serious and sustained economic growth.
“This government continues to ask Nigerians to give more and more while it allows those in public office to take more and more.
“Tinubu has brought Nigerians to their knees. But Tinubu will not relent till he brings Nigerians to the grave. We will not allow suffering Nigerians to be brought to the grave.
“We, as Nigerian Opposition Movement have decided to stand up in support of those opposition politicians who issued the letter a few days ago and the NLC and TUC to say enough is enough.
“This tax plan must not take off now. Its implementation must be suspended immediately. This is not tax reform. This tax is a weapon fashioned against the economic wellbeing and social security of suffering and poor Nigerian citizens.
“This government is asking Nigerians who have already been brought down on their knees by the weight of poverty and squalor and have nothing left to give, to give more. No. You cannot tax hunger. “You cannot tax poverty. And you cannot tax people into prosperity. Since he came to office, President Tinubu has shown where his heart is. It is not with the Nigerian people.
” It is with the few oligarchs who are attached to his economic and political interest. The bad policies of the administration are intentionally so because President Tinubu is not committed to prosperity of ordinary citizens.
“He is committed to getting and keeping political power as a tool of creating wealth for himself and his family and friends. This is bad for Nigeria”, the group declared.
“As leaders of conscience, we cannot justify Tinubu’s exploitative taxes against the poor in Nigeria because there is no evidence of prudence or due process in this administration”, they stated.
Aside Igbawua, other members of the group in attendance included; Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hajia Aisha Yesufu, Hon CID Maduabum, Barr Kenneth Okonkwo, Hon Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Sports and Comrade Alhaji Salihu Lukman, formerly of the All Progressives Congress, APC, among others.
