The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Nigerians to reject what it described as distorted or falsified tax laws, warning that such practices undermine public trust and the credibility of fiscal reforms.
The call was made by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in his 2025 Christmas message issued on Wednesday, where he stressed the need for inclusivity, transparency and fairness in the formulation of tax policies.
Ajaero said any tax system tainted by alleged distortions or forgery was unacceptable and should not be supported by citizens.
“Together, in this season and beyond, we must insist on tax justice where the rich pay their fair share and all forms of regressive taxation are removed,” he said. “Any tax system that is mired in apparent distortion and outright forgery is unacceptable and should therefore be rejected by all.”
He called for social and tax justice, insisting that citizens must have access to quality healthcare, education and security, while workers’ rights and fair remuneration are protected.
According to the NLC president, sustainable reforms require patience, broad consultation and transparency, rather than rushed legislation driven by narrow political interests.
“It is better to patiently craft a law that is broadly owned than to rush into one filled with serious errors and outright political manipulations,” he said.
Ajaero also urged Nigerians to remain united in demanding equitable governance, reaffirming the NLC’s commitment to mobilising workers against policies that deepen economic hardship.
The labour leader’s comments come amid growing controversy over Nigeria’s recent tax reforms. A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, had raised concerns over alleged discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and released to the public.
Dasuki argued that his legislative rights were breached, claiming that the gazetted laws did not reflect what lawmakers debated and approved on the floor of the House.
President Bola Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law on June 26, 2025. The laws — the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act — are collectively known as the Nigerian Tax Reform Acts.
The reforms are aimed at modernising the tax system, expanding the tax base and improving efficiency, including replacing the Federal Inland Revenue Service with the Nigeria Revenue Service, which has expanded oversight powers.
However, the reforms have faced mounting opposition amid claims that the versions gazetted by the executive differ significantly from those approved by lawmakers. The House of Representatives has since set up a committee to investigate the allegations of forgery, while civil society organisations and some state governors have also raised concerns about possible economic hardship and revenue-sharing implications.
