The Presidency on Sunday dismissed claims by former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi that newly implemented tax reforms would impose sweeping financial burdens on Nigerians, describing the remarks as “egregious lies.”
In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu, on information and strategy, accused Amaechi of misleading the public about the contents of the Tax Act.
Onanuga was reacting to a viral video in which Amaechi warned of severe economic consequences if the ruling All Progressives Congress remains in power after the 2027 elections. Amaechi alleged the government was delaying implementation of a tax measure until after the vote to avoid backlash.
“Rotimi Amaechi caught spreading egregious lies about the Tax Act. The former minister and governor has really slipped so low, misleading people about the law,” Onanuga said. “Is this blatant falsehood a foretaste of ADC campaign strategy during the campaign for 2027 election?”
Amaechi, who joined the opposition African Democratic Congress in 2025, claimed the law would automatically deduct 25% from large payments, such as transactions for building materials, and that landlords and professionals would pass the cost on to tenants and clients.
“If I pay you 100 million naira for your building materials, automatically 25 million will leave your account,” Amaechi said in the video. He argued that the measure would raise costs across sectors and strain household finances, including school fees.
He also questioned why the government had not implemented the policy earlier, suggesting it was being withheld until after the election.
The Tax Act, signed into law in June 2025 and effective Jan. 1, 2026, consolidates more than 70 taxes, renames the Federal Inland Revenue Service to the Nigeria Revenue Service and introduces taxation of digital assets as part of broader fiscal reforms.
The legislation has drawn criticism from some groups who warn it could increase the burden on low-income earners. Government officials say the reforms are intended to streamline tax administration, strengthen fiscal management and promote long-term economic stability.
