Tax Laws: NANS Mobilises Students for Nationwide Protest
The National Association of Nigerian Students has mobilised for nationwide protests against the implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws, declaring January 14, 2026 a National Day of Action amid unresolved allegations that the gazetted versions differ from those passed by the National Assembly.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commenced nationwide mobilisation to protest the implementation of the new tax laws, which took effect on January 1, 2026, amid lingering controversy over alleged discrepancies in the gazetted versions.
NANS has declared January 14, 2026, a National Day of Action, calling on students across the country to participate in peaceful protests against what it described as an unresolved and controversial reform process.
The student body’s position follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s insistence that the tax laws must commence as scheduled, despite calls from several stakeholders for suspension. The Presidency has maintained that no substantial issue has been established to warrant disruption of the reform process.
However, the tax reforms have continued to attract criticism over claims that provisions in the published gazettes differ from versions passed by the National Assembly. Stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and opposition lawmakers have urged the government to halt implementation pending clarification.
Reacting to the commencement of the new regime, NANS President Olushola Oladoja described the decision as dangerous and inconsistent with democratic principles, arguing that unresolved questions surrounding the authenticity of the laws undermine public trust. He announced plans for a protest march to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with Unity Fountain designated as the convergence point.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) warned that the tax laws could face legal challenges if questions surrounding their legitimacy remain unresolved. He argued that clean, verifiable copies of the laws should have been made available before their commencement and described allegations of inserted provisions as potentially amounting to forgery.
Civil society groups have also weighed in, with one organisation offering a monetary reward to any lawmaker who can produce an authentic, verifiable copy of the tax laws. The group described enforcement without transparency as illegal and oppressive.
In contrast, an FCT High Court has declined to halt the implementation of the tax laws, ruling that it lacked the power to stop the commencement of legislation already signed and gazetted without concrete evidence of wrongdoing. The substantive suit challenging the laws is scheduled for hearing on January 9, 2026.
The unfolding dispute underscores growing tension between the Federal Government and civil groups over transparency, legitimacy, and public participation in Nigeria’s evolving tax framework.
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