NANS Declares National Protest Against Implementation of Tax Reform Law

NANS Declares National Protest Against Implementation of Tax Reform Law

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to mobilize students nationwide to protest against the implementation of the Tax Reform Law, citing unresolved issues in the gazetted law and lack of proper engagement by the government.

In a statement released on Tuesday, NANS National President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, faulted the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for proceeding with the law’s implementation from January 1, 2026, despite lingering concerns about its provisions.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) expresses its profound disappointment and total lack of confidence in the fiscal and economic advisers surrounding President Bola Tinubu, whose misguided counsel has pushed the administration toward an avoidable national confrontation over the controversial Tax Reform Law,” Oladoja said.

NANS accused FIRS and the Presidency of failing to engage stakeholders and the public in meaningful consultations, calling the decision to implement the law without widespread consensus “undemocratic and dangerous.”

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“Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a dictatorship. No policy, no matter how well-intentioned, can be forcefully implemented without the consent of the majority,” Oladoja said. He warned that the law, as currently implemented, could have painful economic consequences for many Nigerians.

The student body also highlighted that civil society organizations, youth groups, and student bodies have expressed strong reservations about the law, urging the government to suspend its implementation until issues regarding constitutional integrity, transparency, and public awareness are fully addressed.

As part of its response, NANS has declared Tuesday, January 14, 2026, as a National Day of Action, calling on students from all campus chapters, state zonal coordinators, and national secretariats to converge at Unity Fountain, Abuja, for a peaceful mass protest and march to the Presidential Villa.

“Our demands remain clear, non-negotiable, and just: Immediate suspension of the implementation of the otherwise beautiful but deeply controversial Tax Reform Law,” Oladoja said. He stressed that NANS will continue to pursue peaceful engagement, democracy, and national development, but will resist any attempt to impose policies without transparency, consent, and constitutional compliance.

NANS Declares National Protest Against Implementation of Tax Reform Law