- The legislation, signed into law in June 2025, restructures Nigeria’s tax system by merging more than 70 separate taxes
- He questioned why the administration had not implemented the policy earlier
- Onanuga dismissed the claims as misleading and accused Amaechi of distorting the provisions of the Tax Act for political purposes
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has accused former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi of spreading false claims about Nigeria’s newly enacted Tax Act.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the dispute followed a viral video in which Amaechi warned Nigerians of serious economic consequences if the ruling All Progressives Congress remains in power after the 2027 general elections.
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In the clip, Amaechi alleged that the tax reforms would impose heavy financial burdens on citizens, including deductions of up to 25 percent on certain transactions.
Amaechi claimed that such deductions would trigger a ripple effect across the economy, forcing landlords, professionals and traders to raise prices to offset the cost.
He questioned why the administration had not implemented the policy earlier, suggesting it was being delayed until after the elections to avoid public backlash.
The former Rivers State governor, who defected to the African Democratic Congress in 2025, urged Nigerians to take the matter seriously, arguing that the policy could affect household incomes and living standards nationwide.
Responding, Onanuga dismissed the claims as misleading and accused Amaechi of distorting the provisions of the Tax Act for political purposes.
He criticised the former minister for what he described as deliberate misinformation and questioned whether the remarks signalled the opposition’s campaign strategy ahead of 2027.
The tax reforms, which took effect on January 1, 2026, have generated debate across the country.
The legislation, signed into law in June 2025, restructures Nigeria’s tax system by merging more than 70 separate taxes, renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service as the Nigeria Revenue Service, and expanding taxation to include digital assets.
While critics argue that aspects of the law may increase pressure on low-income earners, government officials insist the overhaul is designed to streamline revenue collection and promote long-term economic stability.
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