Nationwide Protests Loom as Students Mobilise Against New Tax Laws

Nationwide Protests Loom as Students Mobilise Against New Tax Laws
January 14 declared National Day of Action in Abuja
Falana warns of legal action over disputed tax legislation

The National Association of Nigerian Students has commenced nationwide mobilisation of students to protest the implementation of the new tax laws, which took effect on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

The student body declared January 14, 2026, as a National Day of Action, announcing plans for a mass protest in Abuja against what it described as a controversial and disputed Tax Reform Law.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the move comes despite President Bola Tinubu’s insistence that there is no substantial issue warranting a suspension of the reform process.

The tax reform has continued to generate controversy following allegations that the versions of the tax laws gazetted differ from those passed by the National Assembly.

Several stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, have called for the suspension of implementation pending clarification of the discrepancies.

A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, had earlier alleged that the copies of the tax laws passed by lawmakers were different from those later gazetted.

Reacting to the decision to proceed with implementation, NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, described the move as premature and anti democratic.

He said implementing the tax laws from January 1 while unresolved issues remained was not only unfortunate but also set a dangerous precedent for a government that claims commitment to participatory reforms and democratic values.

According to Oladoja, the Presidency’s statement reaffirming implementation amounted to a grave insult to Nigerians and reflected hegemony, high handedness and disregard for citizens.

He announced that students would converge at Unity Fountain in Abuja on January 14 before marching to the Presidential Villa.

“As the NANS President, I call on all NANS structures, campus chapters, state joints, zonal coordinators and the national secretariat, to commence immediate massive mobilisation for a peaceful mass protest,” he said.

“Our demand is clear and non negotiable, immediate suspension of the implementation of the deeply controversial Tax Reform Law,” Oladoja added.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), also warned that the new tax laws could face serious legal challenges if the controversy surrounding their authenticity is not resolved.

Speaking to journalists in Ilawe Ekiti, Falana said the government should have used the closing days of 2025 to address the concerns and release clean copies of the laws.

“Until we have clean copies, you cannot talk of commencement,” he said, adding that allegations of inserted provisions amounted to forgery.

Falana further criticised the failure of the National Assembly to make the laws readily available online and threatened legal action over what he described as discriminatory tax exemptions granted to wealthy companies operating in Free Trade Zones.