- The shift in stance comes barely a week after NANS threatened mass protests and a march to the Presidential Villa
- The association also pledged to take on a new role as public educators, committing to enlighten Nigerians on the objectives
- The NANS president added that the reforms also introduce stronger social protection measures
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has shelved its planned nationwide protest against the newly introduced Tax Reform Law after engaging federal authorities in dialogue.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the decision followed a high-level meeting in Abuja between NANS leaders and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, where concerns raised by students were extensively discussed.
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The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the maiden Expanded National Executive Council (ENEC) meeting of the students’ body and read by NANS National President, Olushola Oladoja.
He explained that the proposed January 14, 2026 National Day of Action was suspended after the association received what it described as clear and satisfactory explanations on the intent and structure of the tax law.
According to Oladoja, the Tax Reform Law was crafted to stimulate economic growth, improve revenue collection systems and strengthen institutions, while deliberately protecting low-income earners and vulnerable Nigerians.
He stressed that the law was not designed to punish the poor but to ensure fairness by making higher-income earners contribute more equitably to national revenue.
The NANS president added that the reforms also introduce stronger social protection measures and correct long-standing imbalances in the tax system that placed excessive pressure on a narrow segment of taxpayers.
As part of its resolutions, NANS passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, noting that the law provides a transparent and centralised revenue-sharing framework among the federal, state and local governments.
The association also pledged to take on a new role as public educators, committing to enlighten Nigerians on the objectives and benefits of the tax reforms to build trust during implementation.
Oladoja further disclosed that the Expanded NEC affirmed the authenticity of the Tax Reform Law as duly passed and released by the National Assembly after due legislative scrutiny.
Members of the NEC meeting included officials from the NANS National Executive Council, leaders of university, polytechnic and college of education student unions, zonal coordinators across the six geopolitical zones, and Joint Campus Council chairmen nationwide.
The shift in stance comes barely a week after NANS threatened mass protests and a march to the Presidential Villa, accusing the Federal Government of sidelining public opinion.
However, Oyedele had earlier clarified that the law prioritises social equity, shields vulnerable groups from additional tax burdens, and restructures the system to reflect taxpayers’ ability to pay, with the broader aim of creating a more inclusive and sustainable fiscal environment.
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