NANS declares January 14 nationwide protest in opposition to new tax legal guidelines
The Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian College students has set 14 January, 2026, for a nationwide motion to protest in opposition to the implementation of the brand new tax legal guidelines, citing considerations over its influence on college students and the broader Nigerian populace.
NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, disclosed this in an announcement issued on Wednesday the place he expressed profound disappointment and complete insecurity within the fiscal and {economic} advisers surrounding President Bola Tinubu.
Oladoja mentioned thorough what he referred to as their misguided counsel, Tinubu has continued to push the administration in the direction of an avoidable nationwide confrontation over the controversial Tax Reform Legal guidelines.
NANS acknowledged that the Chairman of the Federal Inland Income Service, Zacch Adedeji, has confirmed to be a failure in his administration of preliminary engagements in the direction of the implementation of the brand new tax regime.
In keeping with Oladoja, Adedeji’s incompetence, poor stakeholder administration and disastrous implementation technique are on the verge of eroding the hard-earned positive factors of the Tinubu administration in different important sectors of the financial system.
“The choice to proceed with implementing the Tax Reform Regulation from 1 January 2026 isn’t solely unlucky however units a harmful precedent for a authorities that claims dedication to participatory reforms and democratic values.
“Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a dictatorship. No coverage, irrespective of how effectively intentioned, may be forcefully carried out with out the consent and confidence of nearly all of the folks.
“It’s subsequently disturbing and unacceptable that Mr President is being suggested to proceed with implementing this legislation, even when the Nationwide Meeting, the constitutionally recognised representatives of the Nigerian folks, has raised elementary questions concerning discrepancies within the gazetted model of the legislation,” Oladoja added.
The NANS President additionally mentioned it was shameful that the federal government had determined to proceed with the implementation, whatever the painful {economic} penalties it could portend for a lot of Nigerians.
“Extra regarding is the truth that civil society organisations, youth {groups} and college students’ our bodies throughout the nation have brazenly expressed sturdy reservations, calling for the suspension of implementation till all gray areas are resolved, notably points bordering on constitutional integrity, transparency, and complete public training and sensitisation of the Nigerian populace,” he famous.
He mentioned the federal government should perceive that there may be no authorities with out the ruled and that whereas energy might reside in places of work, the ability of the folks is at all times better than these in energy.
“It’s in opposition to this backdrop that NANS declares Tuesday, 14 January 2026, as a Nationwide Day of Motion in opposition to the implementation of the controversial Tax Reform Regulation,” the assertion acknowledged.
He referred to as on all NANS constructions, campus chapters, state joint councils, zonal coordinators and the nationwide secretariat to start rapid and large mobilisation for a peaceable mass protest and march to the Presidential Villa gate in Abuja on the mentioned date.